Tag: 1 John 4:18

One Day at a Time

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🎙️ One Day at a Time: What I Learned After the Doctor Said “Melanoma”
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

It was about this time in June 2015. The kind of hot Texas day where the pavement wavers like a mirage and the sky looks too bright for bad news. But bad news doesn’t wait for cloud cover.

We were sitting in a cold room full of diplomas and sterile walls when the doctor cleared her throat and gave me a look I’ll never forget. She said, “Your wife has advanced stage three melanoma. We’ve scheduled surgery in two days.”

I didn’t say much. Just nodded while my insides twisted like barbed wire.

That word—melanoma—hit like a fist to the gut. 

And it came two years after her first diagnosis: neuroendocrine carcinoid. That’s the same rare cancer that took down Steve Jobs, and now it was taking its time with my bride. 

They told us plain, looked my wife in the eye: This is serious. I’ll do the surgery to remove the melanoma. If the it recurs after the surgery, it will kill you. I want you to understand this will be terminal. You will die, and even if by some miracle the melanoma progresses slowly, then the neuroendocrine carcinoid will take your life. She added, You need to get your affairs in order.

You don’t ever forget hearing something like that. (Sadly, only ninety days later a PET scan showed the melanoma had recurred.)

The World Got Quieter After That

Everything slowed down. Even the birds outside seemed to hush. You don’t think about grocery lists or emails after news like that. You think about holding her hand. About how your children and her sisters are gonna take it. About how long you’ve got left to tell her all the things you meant to say over the years.

I won’t walk you through the medical side of it. That was her fight, her pain, and she bore it with a kind of grace that still humbles me. She had her team of doctors, specialists, and treatments stacked high like a pile of phone books. But my focus wasn’t on prescriptions or procedures.

I went looking for God.

My Bible Became My Lifeline

I turned to the scriptures like a thirsty man turns to a well. I’d wake up early, stop on my way to work at Starbucks for a blonde roast coffee, and sit with the Word in one hand and my aching heart in the other.

And over and over, one verse kept coming back like a faithful friend:

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”— Matthew 6:34 (KJV)

That’s Jesus talking. He wasn’t sugarcoating life—He was giving us a way to survive it.

What That Verse Meant to Me

I read it a dozen times before it sank in:
Today is enough. Don’t drag tomorrow’s troubles into it.

I couldn’t fix her diagnosis. Couldn’t plan a perfect future. But I could hold her hand on that day. I could sit beside her while she napped. I could whisper prayers when she was too tired to say her own.

When I stopped staring into the fog of what might be, I started seeing what was—God’s presence, right in the middle of the mess.

A Prayer from a Worn-Out Caregiver

Father in Heaven, help me live in the now.
Let me see You in this moment, even when the moments are hard.
Help me let go of tomorrow’s worries and take hold of the grace You’ve given me today.
I don’t know what’s coming next, Lord, but I know You’ll be there when it does.
And that’s enough for me. Amen.

Looking Back

My wife passed in 2018. And though the pain of her absence lingers, so does the peace I found in that verse. God didn’t promise easy. He promised enough—enough strength for today, enough grace for the heartache, enough hope to keep walking.

So if you’re facing a long road, whether it’s your diagnosis or someone else’s, take it from a fella who’s walked it slow: God is in the middle of it.

Take a breath. Take His hand.
And take it one day at a time.

🕊
Still trusting.
Grace and peace,
Jimmie 

💡 Need More Encouragement for the Journey?

If today’s message about chronic illness struck a chord, you’re not alone. I’ve walked that road—and I wrote a devotional book especially for folks like us navigating the long, winding path of chronic illness.

Whether you’re facing the diagnosis yourself or walking beside someone you love, this book offers heartfelt prayers, biblical wisdom, and honest encouragement for each step of the journey.

👉 Looking for hope, peace, and direction?

You can learn more and grab your copy right here: [Prayers: Prayers for the Chronically Ill: 60 Prayers or Caregiving: Biblical Insights From a Caregiver’s Journey ]

Because you don’t have to walk through this alone—and God’s love still speaks into the hard places.

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print

It’s Okay to Cry

Posted in @jimmiekepler, Ancient Wisdom for Today, Bible, Bible Memes, Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Christian Living, Christian Writers, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, jimmiekepler.com, Poet, Poet's Life, Poets, US Military History, Writer's Life, WritingLeave a comment
It’s Okay to Cry
A Morning Thought From Jimmie Aaron Kepler
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

Living with a chronic illness—or walking beside someone who is—will bring tears. That’s not weakness. That’s not failure. That’s just life being honest. And friend, it’s okay to cry.

Some days, it’s the quiet ache of fatigue that won’t let go. Other days, it’s watching someone you love fight a battle their body doesn’t seem ready to win. And then there are the days where the tears come out of nowhere—no warning, just a wave. I’ve learned not to fight them. I’ve learned to let them come.

And here’s the beautiful truth tucked away in God’s Word: He sees every tear. He remembers every sorrow. And He’s for us, not against us.

📖 Today’s Scripture

Psalm 56:8-9 (KJV)“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.”

I love how personal this verse feels. King David, worn and weary from being chased and misunderstood, still believed that his tears mattered to the Almighty. He believed God kept track of each one, collecting them like precious pearls in a bottle. That’s not just poetry—that’s divine care.

💡 What It Means to Me

God doesn’t waste sorrow. He doesn’t overlook tears. And He certainly doesn’t dismiss our pain as something we should just “get over.” No, He sees. He remembers. He heals.

David’s confidence in the Lord’s attention gives me strength. He wasn’t ashamed to cry. He knew the One who counted every step he took and every tear he shed. That same God knows you. Knows me. And, praise His name, He’s for us.

🙏 A Prayer From the Heart

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of tears and the healing they bring. Remind me that crying isn’t weakness—it’s honesty. It’s release. It’s the soul’s way of saying, “This matters.”

Lord Jesus, thank You for not brushing aside our weeping. For joining us in the garden of grief. For showing us by Your own example that it’s okay to cry.

Yahweh-Rapha, God who heals, I give You the chronic illness—the weariness, the worry, the long nights, and the uncertain tomorrows. Please grant me and my loved ones the grace to feel what we feel, and to come to You with every single tear.

Let my family be a soft place to land when the sorrow wells up. Help us all be gentle with one another. Loving. Supportive. Kind.

And when I’m tempted to question, Lord, help me trust instead. Help me rest in the confidence of David, who boldly declared: “God is for me.”

Amen.

Tears may fall, but they never fall unnoticed. And sometimes, the holiest thing we can do is let them come.

Grace and Peace,
Jimmie Aaron Kepler
Poet. Storyteller. Encourager of souls.

💡 Need More Encouragement for the Journey?

If today’s message about chronic illness struck a chord, you’re not alone. I’ve walked that road—and I wrote a devotional book especially for folks like us navigating the long, winding path of chronic illness.

Whether you’re facing the diagnosis yourself or walking beside someone you love, this book offers heartfelt prayers, biblical wisdom, and honest encouragement for each step of the journey.

👉 Looking for hope, peace, and direction?

You can learn more and grab your copy right here: [Prayers: Prayers for the Chronically Ill: 60 Prayers]

Because you don’t have to walk through this alone—and God’s love still speaks into the hard places.

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print

Accepting God’s Love

Posted in @jimmiekepler, Ancient Wisdom for Today, Bible, Bible Memes, Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Christian Living, Christian Writers, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, jimmiekepler.com, Poet, Poet's Life, Poets, US Military History, Writer's Life, WritingLeave a comment
Accepting God’s Love
A Morning Thought from Jimmie Aaron Kepler
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

📖 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” — 1 John 4:18 (KJV)

There’s something about fear that can sneak into the corners of your heart, especially when you’re staring down a diagnosis you didn’t ask for. The kind that shows up in a doctor’s office on a Tuesday afternoon and lingers long after the sun sets.

I’ve seen it in my own life. I’ve seen it in the eyes of people I love. You get the news—the test results, the scan, the whispered “I’m sorry”—and suddenly the future you thought you had? It evaporates like dew on a hot Texas morning.

Instead of plans, you’ve got questions.
Instead of peace, you’ve got panic.
Instead of control, you’ve got a storm you can’t steer through on your own.

And yet—right there, in the middle of all that uncertainty—God whispers something surprising:

“There is no fear in love.”

Now, that verse from 1 John 4:18 isn’t just a pretty line to embroider on a pillow. It’s a lifeline. A reminder that perfect love—God’s love—casts out fear like light driving out the dark.

💔 What Happens When Life Changes in an Instant?

When you or someone you love is diagnosed with a chronic illness, everything shifts.

Hopes and dreams get put on hold—or rewritten entirely. You start mapping out a new normal. It’s a road you didn’t plan to walk, and it can be lonely, long, and painful.

Chronic illness—by definition—isn’t something that goes away overnight. The U.S. National Center for Health Statistics says it lasts at least three months. Often longer. Sometimes forever.

These are just a few of the chronic illnesses people live with every single day:

  • Alzheimer’s  or Dementia
  • Arthritis and chronic inflammation
  • Cancer
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome or trigger finger
  • Diabetes
  • Heart disease
  • Migraine headaches
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Sickle cell disease

Each one of these names carries weight. Pain. Exhaustion. Fear. And if you’re the caregiver? The load might be different, but it’s just as heavy.

🙏 So Where’s the Peace?

That’s where 1 John 4:18 steps in.
Not with platitudes. But with promise.

“Perfect love casteth out fear…”

It doesn’t say love tiptoes around fear. It says love casts it out. Throws it out. Evicts it.

And how? Because that love doesn’t come from us—it comes from Jesus Christ.
When we invite Him in, He doesn’t just comfort—He transforms.
He gives us boldness because we begin to look like Him. And He, friend, is not afraid.

That kind of love—His love—is the cease and desist letter to fear.

It’s what lets you sit beside a hospital bed and still have hope.
It’s what lets you wake up with uncertainty and still find peace.
It’s what lets you say, “I don’t know what tomorrow brings—but I know Who holds it.”

💡 Real Love. Real Courage.

It’s easy to talk about love when life is calm.
But real, perfect love shows up when everything falls apart.

Jesus doesn’t promise us a pain-free life. He promises us His presence in the pain.
And when His perfect love lives in us, we’re not defined by fear anymore.

Not even death can shake the peace He gives.

“He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

So if fear is creeping in—and it does from time to time—that just means it’s time to lean deeper into Jesus. Let His love finish its work in you.

🛐 A Prayer from the Heart

If you’re walking through illness, caregiving, or fear of any kind, I invite you to pray with me:

Lord Jesus, thank You that there is no fear in love—but perfect love casts out fear. Heavenly Father, help me keep my mind and heart focused on You and Your love for me.

When I look toward the future and feel anxious, remind me You’re already there. Give me grace to meet each challenge. Strength for each step. Peace that passes understanding.

And help me know, with full confidence, that as a Believer in Jesus Christ, my ultimate future is secure—in Heaven with You. 

Amen.

🕊️ One Last Thing

If you’ve never accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior, now’s a fine time to do so.

You don’t need to have all the answers. You just need to say yes to the One who already loves you perfectly.

And if you have—hold tight. Fear doesn’t get the final word. Love does. Always.

Grace and peace to you, friends.
—Jimmie 

💡 Need More Encouragement for the Journey?

If today’s message about chronic illness struck a chord, you’re not alone. I’ve walked that road—and I wrote a devotional book especially for folks like us navigating the long, winding path of chronic illness.

Whether you’re facing the diagnosis yourself or walking beside someone you love, this book offers heartfelt prayers, biblical wisdom, and honest encouragement for each step of the journey.

👉 Looking for hope, peace, and direction?

You can learn more and grab your copy right here: [Prayers: Prayers for the Chronically Ill: 60 Prayers]

Because you don’t have to walk through this alone—and God’s love still speaks into the hard places.

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print

📍 jimmiekepler.com | jimmiekepler.substack.com

 

When Love Answers the Door

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When Love Answers the Door
By Jimmie Aaron Kepler

This morning, I was sitting at my usual table at Starbucks, sipping on a tall blonde roast, watching the sunrise cut through the last of the night. One of those quiet starts where the world feels like it’s holding its breath.

I’d already read my morning devotional and spent a while meditating on the verse. Then I checked my email and texts. There was an email from a lady reading my book Caregiving: Biblical Insights From a Caregiver’s Journey. She said it was helping her as she cares for her elderly mother. I said a simple, “Thank you, Jesus” and remembered that this is why I write.

Then I saw a text from a dear friend. Her husband had been admitted to the hospital—again.

And wouldn’t you know it—fear decided to show up.

Not stomping through the front door, no. Fear’s sneakier than that. It crept in on the heels of that text, with a heavy heart and the weight of helplessness. It sneaks in through headlines, old memories you thought you’d buried deep, or that quiet whisper that maybe—just maybe—you’re not enough for the road still ahead.

Fear’s a good liar like that.

It’ll tell you you’re alone. That things won’t get better. That you’ve messed up too much, waited too long, or missed your window. It’s the voice that keeps you up at night and has you second-guessing your reflection in the morning.

But right then—right here at that old Starbucks table—I remembered a verse that always settles me down. The very verse from my devotional. The one God knew I’d need before the sun came up:

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment…” — 1 John 4:18 (KJV)

I’ve read that one a thousand times—maybe more. But this morning, it felt like God pulled up a chair beside me and whispered it fresh.

You see, fear doesn’t stand a chance when perfect love walks in. And God’s love? That’s as perfect as it gets. It doesn’t torment or tie knots in your stomach. It doesn’t accuse or tally up your failures. And it sure doesn’t get mad when you’re scared half to death about someone you love.

No, God’s love wraps you up. Settles you down. Reminds you who’s really in control.

So if fear’s been knocking on your door lately—about your health, your spouse’s well-being, your future, your family, or your past—I hope you’ll let Love answer.

God’s still in the business of casting out fear. And He doesn’t need a sermon or a spotlight to do it. Just a heart willing to believe He’s there—even in the quiet, even in the waiting.

I’m learning that again… one sunrise at a time.

Grace and peace,
Jimmie

Did you enjoy this article? You can find more of Jimmie Aaron Kepler’s books at Jimmie’s books available in paperback, ebook, audio, and large print

What Can Cast Out Fear?

Posted in @jimmiekepler, Bible, Bible Memes, Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Christian Living, Christian Writers, Jim Kepler, Jimmie A. Kepler, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler, jimmiekepler.com, Writer's Life, WritingLeave a comment

God’s Love

What do you do when the future you had planned is suddenly erased? 

A person confronting a chronic illness may feel uncertain about the future. Their hopes and dreams may be placed on hold or have to be altered. They may feel hopeless and helpless. When they feel uncertain about the future, lead them to that perfect love which casts out all fear. Share the love of Jesus Christ.

What is a chronic illness? A chronic disease is one lasting three months or more, by the definition of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Chronic diseases generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, nor do they just disappear.

Examples of chronic illnesses are:

  • Alzheimer disease
  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Cancer
  • Diabetes
  • Glaucoma
  • Heart Disease
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson disease

Bible Verse:

1 John 4:18 (KJV), “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

What the verse means:

  • John says that perfect love produces courage in the day of judgment. Why?
  • Perfect love produces likeness to Christ. Jesus Christ is the Judge.
  • There is another way in which love produces boldness. It does this by its casting out fear.
  • The entrance of perfect love through Jesus Christ is for fear a cease and desist letter to quit. A person cannot both love and fear the same person or thing. When perfect love comes in, the darker fear exits.
  • When love arrives, it brings hand in hand with itself Courage.
  • Boldness is the companion of love, only when love is perfect.
  • Only professing Christians can experience this perfect love of God, a love that casts out fear.
  • As Believer’s we can face the future, including a chronic illness, and even death with the peace that only comes from Christ’s perfect love.

Praying using the verses:

  1. Lord Jesus, thank you that there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.
  2. Heavenly Father, help us to keep our minds focused on you and your love for us.
  3. Remove any fears we may have as we look to the future. 
  4. Provide us with your grace to meet the challenges we encounter daily.
  5. Help us to know as Believers in Jesus Christ our ultimate future is in Heaven.

 

This blog is adapted from his  book, “Prayers for the Chronically Ill: 60 Prayers” from The Bible Speaks on Life Issues Book One. You can learn more of the book series and purchase it at MORE INFO ABOUT SERIES.

It’s Okay to be Afraid

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler2 Comments

1.1 My Story

My eyes locked on to the bloody spot on the lower left front of my wife Benita’s blouse.

“What’s going on? What’s with the blood?” I asked pointing to the half-dollar sized strain.

My heart was aching. It looked terrible, scary. I knew this couldn’t be good.

Miss Benita gazed down toward the damp crimson. Her eyes looked tired, sad. She said, “It’s my mole. It started bleeding.”

I recalled the small mole I had first noticed over forty years earlier on our wedding night. I had playfully kidded her about it that night calling it her beauty mark. I found out that was the wrong thing to do. She was sensitive about the mole.

“What’s going on?” I said. I could hear the fear, concern, and the demand for an answer in my voice.

She lifted her eyes meeting mine. I could see the tears forming. She smiled weakly and then said, “I think I must have scratched or irritated it, maybe at work. It started bleeding a couple of weeks ago. It scabbed over a couple of times, but when I thought it was healing, I would do something to cause the scab to bleed. I thought it would get better. Instead, I think it may be getting infected. It may be getting worse, and it’s not healing,” she said.

Melanoma Cancer, I thought.

“Has Dr. Z looked at it?”

She shook her head, “No, not yet. I didn’t want to mess up our vacation to Colorado and your writer’s conference,” she answered with a forced smile and then lowered her eyes.

I took her hand, lovingly squeezed it, and hugged her holding her close. We were out for an afternoon of shopping in a local furniture store and enjoying each other’s company.

I nodded and then said, “Let’s go home where I can look at it.”

She stared at me, our eyes locking for a few seconds. It was as if she was saying I’m sorry. She looked sad. Then she nodded.

She knows this is very bad, I thought.

We held hands, walked unhurriedly through the store, and to the car. I drove us home in silence.

Once home, I led her to the bedroom and closed the door. She unbuttoned the blouse and removed a blood-soaked gauze bandage. The mole was oozing blood through a cracked dreadful-looking scab.

The mole had grown from the size of an eraser on a number 2 pencil to about the size of a quarter. It had changed from a light brown to a horrible black since I last remembered seeing it.

Melanoma Cancer, I again thought.

“Let’s call the dermatologist. I think that’s Melanoma Cancer,” I said with a seriousness that scared even me.

Miss Benita’s lips tightened, and eyes narrowed at hearing the words. She shook slightly and exhaled.

I asked, “Do you want me to call and get you an appointment or do you prefer to call?”

She glanced at herself in the mirror looking at the mole. “I’ll call the dermatologist. Dr. Z will refer me there,” she said.

The dermatologist performed the same day an in-office surgery removing the mole and adjacent tissue. The physician had the test expedited. She called late that night with the biopsy’s results.

“I wrote down what the doctor told me. She said, ‘It’s malignant. It is a type of cancer called Melanoma, and it’s an advanced stage three. The depth of cancer determines the stage. It’s within one centimeter of being stage four.’ I know it’s bad. I could hear the doctor’s quivering voice and her choking back tears. She told me this is serious and could kill me,” said a shaken Miss Benita.

The dermatologist acquired an appointment with a surgical oncologist. She said I needed to go to the office with my wife. Her finding us an appointment the next morning at 8 AM showed the urgency of the situation. My wife had surgery within a couple of days.

The surgery’s findings were terrible. It was Melanoma Cancer. The cancer had spread to the lymph nodes.

The oncological surgeon removed thirty-four lymph nodes. The physician told me the five-year survival rate for these findings was less than ten percent.

While my wife was still in recovery at the hospital, the surgeon told us some of the treatment options and that when not if, cancer recurred it would be restaged to Melanoma stage 4 and would be terminal. There was no cure. She said death was the ultimate destination of this journey barring providential intervention or a new medical and pharmaceutical breakthrough.

I knew Melanoma stage 3 was too big for me to handle. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had already moved into a new role as a caregiver. I also realized the future my wife and I had planned together had suddenly changed.

Our hopes and dreams vanished. They were replaced by feelings of fear and hopelessness. I was overwhelmed just thinking about the day to day struggles of caregiving. I faced the fear of the unknown.

So many questions flooded my mind. Would my wife survive? How long would she live? What would be the quality of her life and mine? How would we pay the medical bills? How much help was she going to need from me daily? How could I be strong and help her? How was this going to affect our day jobs?

I also was concerned for our three grown children and granddaughter. What I needed was hope.

The purpose of this book is to share the hope Christians have and the hope that my wife and I exercised through our faith in Jesus Christ. It shares my journey as a caregiver.

“Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey” offers Biblical guidance and support helping you in your role as caregiver. It will help you connect with the perfect love which casts out all fear, the love of Jesus Christ.

The day I noticed the blood on Miss Benita’s blouse, my wife and I prayed together. We shared I love you and claimed, Psalm 56:3 (KJV), “What time I am afraid I will trust in thee” and 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your cares on the Lord for He careth for you.”

This story does not have an Earthly happily ever after ending. My wife lived 1001 days from the first surgery. Then she died. The faith we both had in Jesus Christ allowed us to face each day with hope.

Yes, even with our hope because of our Christian faith we still were afraid. However, our trust in Jesus Christ leads us through the process moving us from fear to a calmness that could only come from God. The fact that my wife was a Christian gave us a real-world spiritual happily ever after ending. She is in heaven today, and one day, since I am also a Christian, I will join her there.

1.2 It’s Okay to be Afraid

Fear of the unknown and fear of the journey you are beginning is part of the process of learning to care for a person with a chronic or terminal illness. It’s a scary assignment. When you’re a caregiver, it’s okay to be afraid.

You also need to learn to accept the hope for the caregiver that’s available through Jesus Christ. The hope available through the love of Jesus Christ will help you face and handle the fears you will encounter in your journey of caregiving.

1.3 Bible Verse

1 John 4:18 King James Version of the Holy Bible (KJV), “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

1.4 What the Verse Means

John says that perfect love produces courage in the day of judgment. It casts out fear.

How does the perfect love of Jesus Christ accomplish casting out fear? Perfect love casts out fear because it produces a likeness to Christ and Jesus Christ is the Judge.

There is another way in which love produces boldness. It does this by its casting out fear. The entrance of perfect love through Jesus Christ is for fear a “cease and desist” letter. It is an order to quit.

When love arrives, it brings hand in hand with itself courage. Boldness is the companion of love, only when love is perfect. Only professing Christians can experience this perfect love of God, a love that casts out fear.

As Believer’s in Jesus Christ, we can face the future, including being the caregiver of a loved one with a chronic illness, and even death with the peace that only comes from Christ’s perfect love.

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace.

1.5 Pray Using Scripture

  • Lord Jesus, thank you that there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.
  • Heavenly Father help me to keep my mind focused on you and your love for me.
  • God, help me remove any fears I may have as I look to the future by turning them over to you daily and as new ones occur.
  • Provide your grace to meet the challenges I encounter daily. I cannot travel this journey alone but can with you.
  • Help me to know without any doubt that as a Believer in Jesus Christ my ultimate future is in Heaven. Help my loved one to trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior if they are not a Christian. Prepare their heart to hear the Gospel and to accept Christ as Savior.

1.6 Responding to God’s Hope

  1. List two examples of times you have been afraid (Psalm 56:3 and 1 Peter 5:7).
  2. Remember two times you have trusted in God since your loved one’s diagnosis with a chronic illness (Psalm 56:3 and 1 Peter 5:7)
  3. List two cares or concerns you are facing. Cast (or give) those cares to the Lord remembering that “He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).

Photo Source: Pixabay

This blog is from the book, “Caregiving: Biblical Insights from a Caregiver’s Journey” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Ed.D. The book is available in paperback or eBook format at Caregiving: Biblical Insights From a Caregiver’s Journey

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It’s Okay to be Afraid 

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When You’re a Caregiver, It’s Okay to be Afraid

Fear of the unknown and fear of the journey you are beginning is part of the process of learning to care for a person with a chronic or terminal illness. It’s a scary assignment. When you’re a caregiver, it’s okay to be afraid.

A Biblical Alternative

You also need to learn to accept the hope for the caregiver that’s available through Jesus Christ. The hope available through the love of Jesus Christ will help you face and handle the fears you will encounter.

My Story

My eyes locked on to the bloody spot on the lower left front of my wife’s blouse.

“What’s going on? What’s with the blood?” I asked. My heart was aching. The half-dollar sized stain looked terrible, scary. I knew this couldn’t be good.

My wife gazed down toward the damp crimson. Her eyes looked tired, sad. She said, “It’s my mold.”

The recalled the small mold I had first noticed over forty years earlier on our wedding night. I had playfully kidded her about it that night calling it her beauty mark. I found out that was the wrong thing to do. She was sensitive about the mold.

“Talk to me. What’s going on?” I said.

She lifted her eyes meeting mine. I could see the tears forming. “I think I must have scratched or irritated it, maybe at work. It started bleeding a couple of weeks ago. It scabbed over a couple of time, but each time I thought it was healing, I did something to cause the scab to bleed. I thought it would heal. Instead, I think it may be getting infected. It’s getting worse,” she said.

Melanoma Cancer, I thought. “Have seen a doctor? Has the doctor looked at it?”

She shook her head, “Not yet. I didn’t want to mess up our vacation to Colorado and your writer’s conference.” She forced a smile then lowered her eyes.

I took her hand, lovingly squeezed it, and hugged her holding her close. We then walked to the car and drove home in silence. Once at our house, I led her to the bedroom, closed the door, had her unbutton the blouse, removed a blood-soaked gauze bandage, and looked at the mold. It was oozing blood through a cracked black scab. The mole had grown to about the size of a quarter since I last remembered seeing it.

“Let’s call the dermatologist. I think that’s Melanoma Cancer,” I said with a seriousness that scared even me.

The dermatologist did a biopsy. The physician had the test expedited. She called the same day with the biopsy’s results. 

“It’s malignant. It is a type of cancer called Melanoma, and it’s Melanoma – Stage 3,” said the young dermatologist with a quivering voice. 

The dermatologist obtained for us an appointment with a surgical oncologist. The urgency of the situation was shown by the dermatologist finding us an appointment the next morning. My wife had surgery within a couple of days. 

The surgery’s findings were terrible. It was Melanoma Cancer. The cancer had spread to the lymph nodes. The surgeon removed thirty-four lymph nodes. The physician told me the five-year survival rate for these findings was less than ten percent. 

She told us some treatment options and that when, not if, cancer recurred it would be restaged to Melanoma – Stage 4 and would be terminal. 

I knew Melanoma – Stage 3 was too big for me to handle. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I had already moved into a new role as a caregiver. I also realized the future my wife and I had planned together had suddenly changed.

Our hopes and dreams were erased and replaced by feelings of fear and hopelessness. I was overwhelmed just thinking about the day to day struggles of caregiving. I faced the fear of the unknown. 

Questions flooded my mind. Would my wife survive? How long would she live? How would we pay the medical bills? How much help was she going to need from me daily? How could I be strong and help her? How was this going to affect our day jobs? I also was concerned about our three grown children and granddaughter. What I needed was hope.

The purpose of this book is to share the hope I have experienced through Jesus Christ. “Hope for the Caregiver” offers Biblical guidance and support helping the man or woman accepting the role as caregiver. It will help the caregiver connect with the perfect love which casts out all fear, the love of Jesus Christ.

The day I noticed the bloody spot on her blouse, my wife and I prayed together. We shared saying I love you and claimed, Psalm 56:3 (KJV), “What time I am afraid I will trust in thee” and 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your cares on the Lord for He careth for you.” 

My wife lived 1001 days from the first surgery. The hope we both had through Jesus Christ allowed us to face each day with confidence. Yes, we still were afraid. However, out trust in Jesus Christ leads us through the process with a calmness that could only come from God.

Bible Verse

1 John 4:18 King James Version of the Holy Bible (KJV), “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

What the Verse Means

John says that perfect love produces courage in the day of judgment. It casts out fear.

How does the perfect love of Jesus Christ accomplish casting out fear? Perfect love casts out fear because it produces a likeness to Christ and Jesus Christ is the Judge.

There is another way in which love produces boldness. It does this by its casting out fear. The entrance of perfect love through Jesus Christ is for fear a cease and desist letter. It is an order to quit.

When love arrives, it brings hand in hand with itself courage. Boldness is the companion of love, only when love is perfect. Just professing Christians can experience this perfect love of God, a love that casts out fear. AsBeliever’s in Jesus Christ, we can face the future, including chronic illness, and even death with the peace that only comes from Christ’s perfect love.

If you are not a Christian, accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace. The last section of this chapter explains how to become a Christian. You can accept Jesus Christ today. See the end of the article for information on How to Become a Christian. 

Pray Using Scripture

  • Lord Jesus, thank you that there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.
  • Heavenly Father, help me to keep my mind focused on you and your love for me.
  • God, help me remove any fears I may have as I look to the future by turning them over to you daily and as new ones occur.
  • Provide your grace to meet the challenges I encounter daily. I cannot travel this journey alone but can with you.
  • Help me to know without any doubt that as a Believer in Jesus Christ my ultimate future is in Heaven. Help my loved one to trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior if they are not a Christian. Prepare their heart to hear the Gospel and to accept Christ as Savior.

Responding to God’s Hope

  1. List two examples of times you have been afraid (Psalm 56:3 (KJV) and 1 Peter 5:7).
  2. Remember two times you have trusted in God since your loved one was diagnosed with a chronic illness (Psalm 56:3 (KJV) and 1 Peter 5:7)
  3. List two cares or concerns you are facing. Cast (or give) those cares to the Lord remembering that “He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7 (KJV)).

Photo Source: Pixabay

This article is from the forthcoming book, “Hope for the Caregiver: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional Approach.”

Accepting God’s Love

Posted in Blog, Caregiver, Caregiving, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie Kepler2 Comments

Part of learning to live with a chronic illness is accepting God’s love.

What do you do when the lab results or physician’s diagnosis erase the future you or your loved one had planned?

As you or your loved one confronts a chronic illness, you may feel uncertain about tomorrow. Your hopes and dreams at best are placed on hold. At worst, you face an alternative future to the one you had charted. Feelings of hopelessness, despair, and helplessness may engulf you.

When you are uncertain about the future, you need a perfect love which casts out all fear. You need the love of Jesus Christ.

If you are a caregiver, you may ask, “What is a chronic illness or disease?”

A chronic disease is one lasting three months or more, by the definition of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Chronic illnesses generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, nor do they just disappear. Examples of chronic diseases are:

  • Alzheimer disease
  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Cancer
  • COPD
  • Crohn disease
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Diabetes
  • Dementia
  • Epilepsy
  • Glaucoma
  • Heart Disease
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Oral lichen planus
  • Parkinson disease
  • Sickle cell disease

Today’s Bible Verse:

1 John 4:18 King James Version of the Holy Bible (KJV), “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

What the Verse Means:

John says that perfect love produces courage in the day of judgment. It casts out fear.

How does the perfect love of Jesus Christ accomplish casting out fear? Perfect love casts out fear because it produces a likeness to Christ and Jesus Christ is the Judge.

There is another way in which love produces boldness. It does this by its casting out fear. The entrance of perfect love through Jesus Christ is for fear a cease and desist letter. It is an order to quit.

When love arrives, it brings hand in hand with itself courage. Boldness is the companion of love, only when love is perfect. Just professing Christians can experience this perfect love of God, a love that casts out fear. AsBeliever’s in Jesus Christ, we can face the future, including chronic illness, and even death with the peace that only comes from Christ’s perfect love.

If you are not a Christian accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior is a prerequisite to obtaining God’s peace. The last section of today’s blog explains how to become a Christian. You can accept Jesus Christ today. 

Personalized Prayer Using Today’s Scripture:

  • Lord Jesus, thank you that there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.
  • Heavenly Father, help me to keep my mind focused on you and your love for me.
  • Remove any fears I may have as I look to the future.
  • Provide your grace to meet the challenges I encounter daily. I cannot travel this journey alone but can with you.
  • Help me to know without any doubt that as a Believer in Jesus Christ my ultimate future is in Heaven.

HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN

Being a good person doesn’t get you to heaven. Being “saved or born-again” does. Here’s my story of how I accepted Jesus Christ and became a Christian.

On July 11, 1977, my life changed. If you look up that date in history, you will find nothing historically significant happened on that Sunday. It was a remarkable day for me. Sunday, July 11, 1977, was the watershed event in my life.

While attending First Baptist Church of Lakewood in Tacoma, Washington, I noticed a group of men that seemed to have what I was missing. I attended a Bible study with them.

Here I found that God has given us an essential manual for life — the Bible. God has the answers to the problems and emptiness we may face. I found out I was here for a purpose, and not by accident. I learned Jesus loves me and desires to have a personal relationship with me. However, sin separated me from Him.

I realized I had a sin problem.

The Bible says in Romans 3:23 (KJV), “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

But no one is perfect! We have all sinned and therefore cannot save ourselves by just living a good life.

Why not?

I learned there was a penalty to be paid for my sin.

The Bible says in Romans 6:23 (KJV), “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I learned God gives us a promise.

The Bible says in John 3:16 (KJV), “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I learned that God made a provision for me.

The Bible says in Romans 10:9-10, 13 (KJV), “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. … For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

I prayed to accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus.

I prayed, “Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that You died for my sins and rose from the grave so that I might have eternal life in Heaven with You. I willingly repent of my sins and ask you to come into my heart and life. Take control of my words, thoughts, and actions. I place all of my trust in You for my salvation. I accept You as my Lord and Savior, and this free gift of eternal life. Amen.”

Since then my life has not been perfect. It’s been far from it. I’ve messed up from time to time, sometimes failing miserably in my decisions and choices. However, I have had direction and purpose in my life. I know where I am headed. I have the Bible to give me the principles for daily living. I am never alone. I have had real peace for the last 40 years.

How about you? Have you ever been “saved”?

You can do like I did.

Romans 10:9-10, 13 tells us, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. … For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Why not pray this simple prayer and accept Jesus Christ today?

If you prayed the prayer you can leave a simple “I prayed the prayer” in the comments section. It will encourage me and others. May God bless you.

Photo Source: Pixabay

Thy Will Be Done

Today’s blog post is from the book “Thy Will Be Done: 60 Prayers for the Chronically Ill” by Jimmie Aaron Kepler. It is available in print and on Kindle for Amazon at Amazon Print or Amazon Kindle.

If you are an Amazon Kindle Unlimited member the book is available to read for free in Kindle format. Over the next two months, I will publish each chapter as a blog post

 

God’s Love

Posted in Blog, Jimmie Aaron Kepler, Jimmie KeplerLeave a comment

flowers-2313874_1920

What do you do when the future you had planned is suddenly erased? A person confronting a chronic illness may feel uncertain about the future. Their hopes and dreams may be placed on hold or have to be altered. They may feel hopeless and helpless. When they feel uncertain about the future, lead them to that perfect love which casts out all fear. Share the love of Jesus Christ.

What is a chronic illness? A chronic disease is one lasting three months or more, by the definition of the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics. Chronic diseases generally cannot be prevented by vaccines or cured by medication, nor do they just disappear. Examples of chronic illnesses are:

• Alzheimer disease and dementia
• Arthritis
• Asthma
• Cancer
• COPD
• Crohn disease
• Cystic fibrosis
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• Heart Disease
• HIV/AIDS
• Multiple sclerosis
• Oral lichen planus
• Parkinson disease

Today’s Bible Verse:

1 John 4:18 (KJV), “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

What the verse means:

John says that perfect love produces courage in the day of judgment. Why? Perfect love produces a likeness to Christ. Jesus Christ is the Judge. There is another way in which love produces boldness. It does this by its casting out fear. The entrance of perfect love through Jesus Christ is for fear a cease and desist letter to quit. A persons cannot both love and fear the same person or thing. When perfect love comes in, the darker fear departs. When love arrives, it brings hand in hand with itself Courage. Boldness is the companion of love, only when love is perfect. Only professing Christians can experience this perfect love of God, a love that casts out fear. As Believer’s we can face the future, including a chronic illness, and even death with the peace that only comes from Christ’s perfect love.

Praying using the verses:

  1. Lord Jesus, thank you that there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear.
  2. Heavenly Father, help us to keep our minds focused on you and your love for us.
  3. Remove any fears we may have as we look to the future.
  4. Provide us with your grace to meet the challenges we encounter daily.
  5. Help us to know as Believers in Jesus Christ our ultimate future is in Heaven.

Photo Source: Pixaby