A MINISTRY TO PEOPLE AND FAMILIES STRUGGLING WITH TERMINAL ILLNESS
More and more it seems that we hear of a loved one or friend or someone we know who is unexpectedly diagnosed with terminal illness. Very often we are at a loss as to how to minister to the terminally ill person and to his/her family.
One way that I suggest is to bring a message of hope through prayer, a song, and a Bible study. You may approach a family member or someone close to the patient and ask if it's all right to come and hold a prayer service. Note: Do this with much wisdom and tact. Be sure that the patient agrees to the visit. If the patient and the family agree, below is a plan for a short prayer service:
A. Introduce the song: "My Dearest Child" (English and Tagalog).
1. Have a singer sing the song first.
2. Then have the whole family, and also the patient if possible, sing along. Give everybody a copy of the song (lyrics below).
B. Share a short devotional based on the message of the song:
1. God alone is the Lord and Giver and Sustainer of life. Don't look at the sickness; keep looking to God. The Lord Jesus holds the keys to life and death (Rev. 1:17, 18; 2 Cor. 1:8, 9)
2. Live one day at a time. As the song says, "Live, work, laugh, love, and serve while there is light." Keep hope and faith alive, and keep praying for a miracle. (Matthew 6:33, 34)
3. Make sure of your eternal destination. Whether we live long or short, everybody will have to leave this world sooner or later. The important thing is to make sure of our eternal destination. And the Lord Jesus shows us how to be sure. (Share the Gospel message briefly and clearly at this point. Challenge everyone, not only the patient, to make sure of their relationship with Christ.)
C. Lead in a prayer of healing.
1. Present God's promise regarding prayer: Matthew 7:7; John 16:24.
2. Remind everyone that God's will is best. Jesus is our pattern: He prayed, "Not my will but thine be done."
3. Pray briefly, clearly, to the point and with faith.
D. Close the prayer service by singing together one more time: "My Dearest Child".
SONG OF HOPE
MY DEAREST CHILD
© 2010 Lyrics: Bien A. Llobrera
Tune: “O Danny Boy”
INTRODUCTION: When people tell you that there’s no more hope, listen to this song of hope!
1
My dearest child, loved ones and friends they all have tried,
But now it seems that they have tried and failed,
And though it hurts, you fear that now the time has come,
There’s nothing left but just to say good-bye.
Refrain 1:
My dearest child, the pow’r of life is in My hand,
It’s I whose will and purposes must stand,
Reach out, My child, and let Me hold your hand in Mine,
It’s I alone who’ll tell you when your work is done.
2
My dearest child, they say that night is coming soon,
Yes, that is true for you, and true for all;
The sunset soon must surely follow every dawn;
At journey’s end the feet must homeward turn.
Refrain 2:
But, dearest child, no, don’t you dread the coming night,
Live, work, laugh, love, and serve while there is light;
Keep hope and faith alive and burning in your heart,
A miracle may happen yet before the night.
3
But now they ask, “What if there is no miracle,
And God seems not to hear you when you call?
Then does it mean God doesn’t really care to know
What happens here to anyone below?”
Refrain 3:
My dearest child, before your God forgets you,
The earth must melt, the sun must lose its glow.
I am with you now in your vale of shadow,
And at the bend, your heav’nly home shall welcome you!
Repeat Refrains 1, 2, 3:
My dearest child, the pow’r of life is in My hand,
It’s I whose will and purposes must stand,
Reach out, My child, and let Me hold your hand in Mine,
It’s I alone who’ll tell you when your work is done.
But, dearest child, no, don’t you dread the coming night,
Live, work, laugh, love, and serve while there is light;
Keep hope and faith alive and burning in your heart,
A miracle may happen yet before the night.
My dearest child, before your God forgets you,
The earth must melt, the sun must lose its glow.
I am with you now in your vale of shadow,
And at the bend, your heav’nly home shall welcome you!
Repeat:
And at the bend, your heav’nly home shall welcome you!
AWIT NG PAG-ASA
AKING ANAK
© 2010 Titik: Bien A. Llobrera
Himig: “O Danny Boy”
Paunang salita: Kapag sinabi nila, wala ng pag-asa, pakinggan ang awiting ito ng pag-asa!
1
Aking anak, balita ay malungkot nga,
Sabi’y wala na raw magagawa,
Malungkot man, subali’t naririto na,
Ang oras upang magpaalam na.
Koro 1:
Aking anak, hawak ko ang iyong buhay,
Masusunod tanging kalooban ko lang,
Ang ‘yong kamay sa ‘king kamay mo ilagay,
Tanging ako ang may takda sa ‘yong buhay.
2
Sabi nila, lumulubog na ang araw,
‘Ya’y totoo sa ‘yo’t kaninuman,
Araw na sisikat ay t’yak na lulubog,
Pusong pagod dapat nang matulog.
Koro 2:
Nguni’t anak, h’wag sa dilim matatakot,
May araw pa, magalak ka at maglingkod,
Pag-asa mo’y panatilihing marubdob,
At himala nawa ay ipagkaloob.
3
Tanong nila, “Kung himala nama’y wala?
At dalangin mo’y di alintana?
Hindi kaya ang Diyos ay nilimot ka na?
Di N’ya pansin tayong nasa lupa?”
Koro 3:
Aking anak, bago kita malimutan,
Ang daigdig muna ay papanaw.
Sa ‘yong lungkot Ako ang laging karamay,
At sa wakas, langit ang iyong tahanan!
Ulitin Koro 1, 2, 3
Koro 1:
Aking anak, hawak ko ang iyong buhay,
Masusunod tanging kalooban ko lang,
Ang ‘yong kamay sa ‘king kamay mo ilagay,
Tanging Ako ang may takda sa ‘yong buhay.
Koro 2:
Nguni’t anak, h’wag sa dilim matatakot,
May araw pa, magalak ka at maglingkod,
Pag-asa mo’y panatilihing marubdob,
At himala nawa ay ipagkaloob.
Koro 3:
Aking anak, bago kita malimutan,
Ang daigdig muna ay papanaw.
Sa ‘yong lungkot Ako ang laging karamay,
At sa wakas, langit ang iyong tahanan!
Ulitin:
At sa wakas, langit ang iyong tahanan!
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