Life, Death and Dying

Notes on Thursday, 28 June 2007

Life, Death and Dying

About a month ago, I was wondering How do people minister to those who are dying? This question came about during the time my friend's sister was dying. Melody has gone on to be with the LORD last Friday about 12:10 AM CST.

I came across on this xangaland a lady who has interest in soul care, spiritual care and so forth... So I thought to email her and ask her this question. Recently I ask her could I use what she shared with me in a blog. Here is that email

Hi Susie,

The best way to minister to those that are terminal is to be present through active listening. Through active listening (listening beyond the words) you will be able to find out where she is at even though she is Christian. It is normal for her to have questions for God, even go through different emotions but she will need a safe person who can listen without judging or telling her what to do.

Of course ongoing prayers will be helpful but listening to her journey will be so helpful to her. She may feel safe to share her grief since she and others will be going through anticipatory grief (respond to loss) She may have had dreams she wanted to fufill etc.

She may also be ready to go....most important is to walk with her on the journey and listen to her soul. She may want to do some things, say some things...etc. Empathy is critical...trying to walk in her shoes....not telling her you understand because we don't...but trying to understand where she is at and loving her for it.....because God does...

there is also a site that may be helpful which has some anticipatory and bereavement for the future.... http://www.vitas.com/bereavement/toc.asp#source

Also look in the bereavement section... also this may be helpful..http://www.aromansse.com/death.htm

including... http://www.healthtouch.com/bin/EContent_HT/cnoteShowLfts.asp?fname=02432&title=DEATH+AND+DYING+&cid=HTHLTH

Posted 5/28/2007 7:57 AM by reflectiveLATINA -

I was thinking this week.

Here are some of my thoughts.....

We don't talk about death and dying until someone we know has passed on or hear of somebody dying or committing suicide.. When I read the newspaper, the first section I go to is the Metro Section. Then I go to the obituaries.

I cannot recall how long I have been doing this. Perhaps I pick this up from my mother. That was what she did. She read the obituaries first. Than about a month or so before my mother passing in April of 2000, I started to pray for the survivors in the obituaries. I just started to do that. Why? I don't know. I still pray for those left behind...

Then one day I saw my name in there obituary column...

Those who are in Christ should not have to fear death. Jesus conquered death for us. I don't fear death. I have peace about the issue of death and dying. I believe that when it's time for my spirit and soul to exit my body, I will be in the presence of my LORD. What Jesus did on the cross has ransom my soul.

I am in God's control. I belong completely to Him. I call upon the name of JESUS. I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart as the Bible speaks of about salvation in Romans 10:8-13. I believe that I am being save in the process of my eternal life in the Kingdom of God.

We all at some point in our lives will have to face the end of this life in our earthly vessel. Our spirit and soul will depart from our bodies. Some will leave fast, perhaps in their sleep while others will have go through the slow dying process. And then there will be those who will never see death.

Psalm 116:15

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.

Psalm 23:4 NLT

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. Yes, the LORD is with us even in the point of our spirits exiting our bodies.

Other thoughts and prayers...

I pray that we all become more active listeners ...hearing beyond the words to the people who we are around.

What are some people saying to you? What are some people say to me? I have become more aware of what some people have been talking to me about. For some reason it's becoming a habit. It gives me more of what others are really saying. What's the issue of life.

It's not just TALK. Some times it's what's on peoples' hearts. And what the speaker is saying should be important for the listener to hear. It brings us into accountability in what we are saying and doing so we can encourage one another along our individual journey called life. May we not just talk to get attention nor the brag about things. But to give the hearer some thing worth the time to hear what we are trying to communicate.

I have been noticing that I tend to say more about where I am at or what I am going through. Read between the lines when you listen to others speak. I have said a lot about myself in my journals; Both online and in my personal daily journal . Hearing beyond what people write about is something to think about also.

Listening to one another should be important, especially when a life is at sake. I ask God to make me a better listener when I am around people who I can help. There are times when I have to use discernment. But may we have ears to hear beyond what others are saying. May God give us His wisdom to say or do what is needed.


And may we listen without judging or asking questions or telling others what to do. We all have our comfort zone. I believe that trusting is the key in sharing our hearts and grief with those we trust...to with what we share.

We cannot put trust in others who we don't know us or believe in us. But there is one in whom we can trust in all that can share. He hears us and He cares for you and me...

At times do we take others around us for granted? We don't really mean to do that. But it can and does happen. We don't know when it will be our time to step into the next life set before us. Heaven for those who call upon Jesus... enter into Eternal LIFE or Hell for those who do not call upon Jesus... enter into Eternal DEATH. It's a choice on our behalf.

Time will end and the next life into the Eternal Life will continue.

Father God, I thank You that You give us the choice to choose Heaven or Hell, Life or Death. You even spoke and have recorded in Your Word which one for us to choice. I thank You that You revealed to us to choice LIFE in JESUS CHRIST.

Heavenly Father, grant us wisdom to listen beyond what others are speaking to us. Help us to hear as the Holy Spirit in tune us to hear what others are communication to us about. I know that we cannot share everything with everyone. Only to the one who we feel comfortable with. But help us to bare one another burdens.

At times we think we should not be a burden to another, but we wallow in our pain and suffering feeling that there is no one who can understand our situation. Then there are times when we share our burdens and pains to another what we expect is not what we are looking for. O God send us the comfort that we need.

You hear the cry of Your people. Some are tormented, broken and very tried of the abuse that is destroying their lives. Help Your people find their way through what they are going through. Send refreshment to their souls and laborers to carry their heavy burdens with them. Let them know that they are not alone.

Send those who are dying comfort and healing to their being. We pray that the dying process would be reverse to a complete healing to show Your glory in the lives of those who are around and looking on. You are a miracle working God.

Give those who are caretakers and spiritual caregivers words of wisdom to those who they are caring for. Help them to have that listening ear to hear what is being said so that the dying and the love ones can deal with what they are going through.

Send them comfort and healing to their emotions to those how have loss loved ones. I pray for the entire Gabel Family. I lift each and every one of them up to you. Bring comfort to Floyd, Estelle, Gloria, Lisa, Angela, Cynthia, Gerry and Boyd. We believe that Melody is with Jesus. Bring healing to this family.

We lift up Cynthia to You Father. This family has been through a lot this year. We as believers are standing in faith and believing that Your hand is over Cynthia's being. Help her! Bring the care that she needs. We speak ZOE life to her body in Jesus' name.


I thank You Father God that You have heard our prayers. You are the God who said I Am He. No other can be save only by You. I thank You Father, that You give us LIFE to live. I thank You for the lives of people who have received the bad report of dying. May you take the ones who are dying through the process of Your will.

We cannot understand things in our live, LORD. But we can still believe that You are able to do well beyond what we may ask think or even imagine what we can say to You. You have every thing in control. Whatever happens will turn out for the good of God. For You are God and there is no other.

I praise You Father God and I give You all glory and honor to Your Holy name. I thank You that You are a loving God. You know what is good for us and You will not leave us nor forsake us. You are with us even until it's the end.


Prepare us for when its our time to live this life into the next and for those who are left behind, may they believe and have that assurance that their loved one is in Heaven in the presence of the LORD. And that those who are left behind will have their assurance that they will be in the presence of the LORD by believing upon Jesus when their time comes.


And I give You thanks with all praise that is due Your name. For You are who You said You are. The GREAT I AM. The God of our fathers' and the everlasting God. And I thank you for that in Jesus' name AMEN!
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There will be a time when our blogging will come to an end. Doing Life In The Kingdom Of God The Chronicles of SUSieAN will have a last blog entry....Face it! For some reason our blogging journey will end. So I am learning to write with a purpose each time I have a chance.

What will be left, will be recorded as to what we who have shared, as we are alive to those who are apart of our lives, on this journey that is called life. I am not just sharing a part of my life with you on my online journal. There are motives behind what I do and what you do. You have your say as will.

There is a purpose to what we should do and what we should say. God uses all of us for His purpose. May we be willing vessels to do the will of God in our daily lives, the best way that we can. If we miss the mark, believe that God will guide us back on track.

Hope that you will leave a part of your life in such a way that others will be inspired and encouraged by how God has brought you through in life as a follower of Jesus Christ. I thank God for the avenues of communication. So that we can preserve and share with our future generations.

May we journey in life with a purpose and may we live life to the fullest making a difference to those who we met along our path of life. May we shine our light into our Father's World.

God Bless you. Enjoy your life everyday! We don't know when our time is up.