Hello There! đź‘‹ Â If you just received a beanie or NICUÂ blanket... this message is for you!
We want you to know that we love you, and that there is a lot of love, kindness, and hope in the world -- still!
And... that someone who you probably never met made the hat(s) or blanket for you, with love, by hand!
Yep, that's right, someone you've never met, an unknown friend cares about you and is supporting you on your journey through chemo -- blasting love your way -- with zero expectation of anything in return.
Pure kindness and unconditional love.
We hope this gift warms your heart as much as it warms ours to know that you have received it. And we hope you find more love and kindness on this page so that you can feel as much love as possible!
We want you to know a few things about the gift of love you recieved... ‍ The person in our Knots of Love family who made it for you, by hand, with love --- loves you and made it just for you! They spent hours on it, so that you could wear it and feel the love --- and they expect nothing in return. ‍ AND... ‍ The love goes beyond that! In addition to the person who poured their heart into your gift... many more hands lovingly made, tested, tagged, bagged, packed, and shipped your gift. ‍ Everyone on our team loves you and is rooting for you! ‍ You are loved by the countless people who were involved in delivering your new gift -- from door to door -- to your hands, heart, and head. From the makers to the ops team to the shipping team at Knots of Love -- to the UPS and USPS people who often pick up our packages in the snow and rain, every week -- to our founder (Christine) who calls every maker who sends a beanie or blanket to personally thank and tell them where their lovingly handmade creations were delivered -- to our sponsors and donors that help us cover shipping costs. All of these people, each one, love you! ‍ (We even prayed over your gift before it left our headquarters when it was shipped!) ‍ You are loved. ‍ Even if it might not feel like it sometimes. Even if you are struggling. Just as you are, right now. You are loved.
Keep going. Don't give up. Hold fast to love. And love others. Because today is a gift, an opportunity to love others. ❤️ to ❤️
This Page: Love, Kindness and Optional Resources
The goal of this page is to provide you with love and optional links to resources that encourage, lift, and warm your heart.‍
On this page, there are a lot of Jesus/Bible-based resources... because... We love and follow Jesus. Here, we have assembled many great quotes, projects, books, videos, and songs -- with some Jesus and His Gospel, because how could we not share the most amazing gift ever: eternal life, peace, and joy.
Before we say any more... know that... we love you regardless of your faith and beliefs.
Because of that love... How can we call ourselves believers and receivers of such a gift... and not share it with you? That would be so selfish of us. There is a famous atheist, Pen Jilette, speaking on the topic of sharing the Christian faith, who says it so well: “How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?”. We love you too much not to share The Good News of Christ Jesus with you.  We have zero expectation you become a follower of Jesus (if you are not already) but we must share the truth, if you choose to read on past this point -- because that is what true love does -- shares the truth, with love, even when it might be challenging to say or hear. We aren't perfect, far from it, but we are doing our best to do unto others, as He teaches, and we value people being honest with us, and so hope you value us being honest with you, because we love you.
We hope you find this inspiring, love-bringing, and helpful on your journey through whatever you are going through!
May the Lord bless you, keep you, and guide you through this challenging time.
🙏
Statement About Our Faith
Our faith doesn't have to be your faith, though, of course, we'd love to share it with you if you allow us.
Again, we love you, regardless of what you believe.
If you want to learn more about Jesus, the Gospel, and Life Everlasting, click here for some starter videos and read on. If you want to get to know Jesus / God better, be sure to read The Bible, pray, pause, and listen. Always compare and check anything you hear about Jesus / God, to His Word/The Bible because there are many false teachers out there (knowingly, and accidentally) who are leading people astray via a false gospel, false teachings, and a false Jesus. There is a lot of church-hurt and evil that is done in the world that aims to separate people from Jesus and His Church.
You are wonderfully and fearfully made and loved by God. He knit you together.
He has a purpose for your life, no matter how hard it might be right now, no matter how dark it might be. The Lord, Jesus, The Light of The World, is real, living, loves you -- and is there for you -- and we hope that if you don't yet know him, you turn to Him now. And even if you already know Him, we hope you have invited Him into your challenges and journey, and surrender to and seek His Will. Once we believe, surrender, and make Him Lord of our lives, and do His Will, not ours (the Bible is not a self-help book, we are called by Jesus to deny self... to love and count others more important than self), things change. Maybe not like we want, but more importantly, He changes them as He knows we need -- as they are best for us -- because God is a is a good, good father and has our best interests at heart.
If you have not yet chosen to follow Jesus, or are living lukewarm, know that He loves you, and God desires that no one should perish. He doesn't tell us life will be easy, but that, within the challenges and struggles, He promises (and delivers!) that we will have a peace that surpasses all understanding and a joy so unspeakably awesome that you can't even put it into words. And He delivers on that. We've seen it first hand, time and time again. We hope you get to know Him, and learn His ways, because, as our fav musician Forrest Frank sings "Your Way's Better": ‍
Good News
The Good News of Jesus, also known as The Gospel, as explained by The Gospel Coalition: "The gospel is by definition “good news”—a message about Jesus Christ who accomplished salvation for sinners by his substitutional death and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:3–4). Because of his saving work, repentance and forgiveness of sins must now be proclaimed in his name (Luke 24:47; cf. Matt. 28:18–20). This gospel proclamation entails a call to repentance and faith as the means of entrance into the individual experience of salvation (Luke 24:47; acts 16:30–31; Rom. 10:9–10; Eph. 1:13). In the gospel, God announces the singular saving work of his son, and as we respond to that announcement in faith and repentance God welcomes us and receives us freely in favor. Thus, it is in this good news and its implicit “offer” that we, by faith, find safe standing before God (1 Cor. 15:1).
One day he will make all things new. The good news culminates in a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness, where neither sin nor any of its effects can survive, and where we enjoy the presence of God forever in the context of resurrection existence.And we announce this good news to people everywhere, entreating them with the words, “Be reconciled to God!” by repenting of sin, asking God for his mercy, and trusting Jesus Christ." ‍
Some Related Bible Verses: "God passionately calls rebellious Israel to covenant blessing (Deut. 5:29). God pleads longingly for Israel and waits for her to come to him (Isa. 65:2; Rom. 10:21)—an offer that falls on deaf ears. God laments the destruction of those who refuse him and pleads for them to return and escape his wrath (Ezek. 18:23, 32; 33:11)—again, a call that goes unheeded. God calls rebellious and unbelieving nations to take refuge in him and be blessed (Pss. 2:12; 4:5; Prov. 1:20–33). God calls the sinful to respond to his offer of forgiveness (Isa. 1:18–20; 45:21–22). God pleads—as a peddler on the street—with sinners to come to him for mercy and free pardon (Isa. 55:1–7). Jesus offers spiritual rest indiscriminately to all who will come (Matt. 11:28–30). Jesus illustrates passionate, indiscriminate call to kingdom blessing (Matt. 22:1–13). The offer is passionate and unrestricted, and it is for salvation.Jesus mourns over Jerusalem (Matt. 23:37). Jesus blames the lost for their unbelief (Matt. 23:37; John 5:40). Jesus commands his followers to proclaim the gospel to all people everywhere (Matt. 28:19; Luke 24:47). The apostle Peter calls all who hear him to repent (Acts 2:38–40; 3:19). The apostle Peter offers forgiveness upon repentance—and this for a man who, it turns out, never repents (Acts 8:22). The apostle Paul offers forgiveness in Christ to some who continued to refuse (Acts 13:38–41, 46). God commands all people to faith in Christ for salvation (1 John 3:23). Paul’s gospel ministry is characterized by pleading with sinners, begging them to be saved, reasoning with them, and persuading them (Acts 17:17; 18:4, 19; 19:8, 26; 26:28; 28:23; 1 Cor. 9:19; 2 Cor. 5:11, 20). To be sure, this terminology does not indicate that the apostle reduced conversion to a mere formulaic decisionism. Indeed, he would not cheapen the gospel in order to make it more palatable to sinners (2 Cor. 2:17). But he would offer the gospel indiscriminately, even passionately and without hesitation, to all who would hear him." Source: Essay on The Gospel by Fred Zaspel (Spanish version here)
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.” —1 Corinthians 15:1-8 ‍ ‍ A great free course explaining The Gospel: ‍Explaining the Gospel: A Challenge via Gospel Coalition
"After 20 years of encouragement from his mother to record the Bible, he approached the recording of the New Testament with 'fear, respect, awe, and reverence for the subject matter." Cash said further, "I also did it with a great deal of joy, because I love the Word." Johnny Cash Reads the Complete New Testament is 19 hours of hearing the Word of God from one of the most distinctive voices of our time." Listen For Free on YouTube | Purchase The Recordings on Amazon (no affiliation with us) ‍
"I wear black for those who have never read or listened to the words that Jesus said." ~Johnny Cash ‍
‍ Mister Rogers: ‍ Did you know Fred Rogers was an ordained Christian Minister!? He was!
"There are three ways to ultimate success: The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind." —Mr. Rogers
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”—John Bunyan (Author of Pilgrim's Progress)Â
"One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone."—Shannon L. Adler
“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.”—Steve Maraboli
“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.”—Jackie Chan
"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving."—Amy CarmichaelÂ
“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.”—Scott Adams (Dilbert Comic Series creator)
“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”—Mother Teresa
“You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson
“You can cultivate mercy when you extend acts of compassion and kindness to yourself and to other people.”—Bree Miller
“You don't have to be an angel, just be someone who can give.”—Patti LaBelleÂ
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”—Desmond Tutu
"All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we're giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That's one of the things that connects us as neighbors--in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver."  —Mr. Rogers
“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.”—Bob Kerrey
“A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.”—Joseph Joubert
“Because that’s what kindness is. It’s not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but because you can.” —Andrew Iskander
“Compassion isn’t about solutions. It’s about giving all the love that you’ve got.”—Cheryl Strayed
“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.”—Princess Diana
“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.”—Barbara De Angelis
“That is what compassion does. It challenges our assumptions, our sense of self-limitation, worthlessness, of not having a place in the world, our feelings of loneliness and estrangement. These are narrow, constrictive states of mind. As we develop compassion, our hearts open.”—Sharon Salzberg
“Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.”—Eric Hoffer
“As for…the fear that compassion will involve you in suffering, counter it with the realization that the sharing of sorrow expands your capacity to share joy as well. When you callously ignore the suffering of others, you lose the capacity to share their happiness, too.”—Albert Schweitzer
“Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.”—Anne Herbert
“Always be a little kinder than necessary.”—James M. Barrie ‍ “Because that’s what kindness is. It’s not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but because you can.” —Andrew Iskander
Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” —Desmond Tutu
“To err on the side of kindness is seldom an error.”—Liz Armbruster
“My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humor to lighten the burden of your tender heart.”—Maya Angelou
“It is the characteristic of the magnanimous human to ask no favor but to be ready to do kindness to others.”—Aristotle
"If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person."  —Mr. Rogers
"Love and success, always in that order. It's that simple AND that difficult." —Mr. Rogers
"Love is like infinity: You can't have more or less infinity, and you can't compare two things to see if they're 'equally infinite.' Infinity just is, and that's the way I think love is, too." —Mr. Rogers
"Life’s persistent and most urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'—Martin Luther King Jr.
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."—Winston Churchill
“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”—Robin SharmaÂ
"True kindness, loving kindness, is selfless. Expects nothing in return. It is focused not on self... but on the other. Just like Jesus calls us to do.... how He tells us to do it... to deny self, to count others more important than self..." -- Anonymous Author
(a fun + impactful random act of kindness idea is to ask your infusion nurse or doctor or receptionist if you can print some copies of our kindness quotes page and/or this page, and post it up at your infusion center, doctors office, school, work, church, or elsewhere.)
‍
The Science of Kindness
Research shows that doing kind acts improves our health (but that shouldn't be our goal or reason for being kind)!
Selfish kindness and selfLESSÂ kindness are very different.
Nobody wants kindness that is attached to some kind of hidden self-centered/self-focused/self-gain/selfish motive.
We all want true loving kindness. Freely given. Selflessly.
The science of selfless kindness is AWESOME and studies (1, 2, 3, and countless more) show that acts of kindness has great health benefits (but that's not why we should be kind, in fact, that would be selfish to be kind only to gain something) so we hope you will share a quote from this page and/or become inspired/called to do a small act of kindness for someone in your daily life because it's just the loving thing to do and you want to put more love into the world! We hope more people do acts of kindness because they are the loving and right thing to do -- and expect nothing in return.
Epic Study (YES! We saved one of the best, for last!)
Science proves the Bible, yet again!
The results are amazing!
This massive study on 40,000 Americans was published and here is what they found:
Scientists proved that reading The Bible 4 times a week -- not once, not twice, or three times, but everything changed at reading it FOUR TIMES a week -- in doing so, it had a remarkably positive and transformative effect by reducing the odds of critical, destructive behaviors:
⬇️ Getting drunk = 57% lower odds ⬇️ Premarital Intimate Relations = 68% lower odds ⬇️ Explicit Content = 61% lower odds ⬇️ Gambling = 74% lower odds ⬇️ Any of these habits = 57% lower odds ‍ Here is the study: https://bttbfiles.com/web/docs/cbe/Scientific_Evidence_for_the_Power_of_4.pdf ‍ It's no wonder that the bible is banned and changed/modified in so many countries and so many false teachers are preaching a false Gospel, and some are just simply not encouraging people to read their Bibles for themselves.
Because it works. Because it is powerful. Because, it is alive! Because, it is God's Word! Because, God loves us, and He is faithful, never lies, and is always good!
The Bible is God's Word, and God's Word does not return void:
"so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11 (NIV) ‍ "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
"Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls." James 1:21 (NIV) ‍ ~ ‍ Are you not yet a beleiver in Jesus? We love you, regardless of your answer to that question. But more importantly, Jesus loves you. And He wants a living, active relationship withy you. Jesus is someone you can talk to as often as you want, and call on, as often as you need. He is there for you, with His hand out, waiting. Why not give God a chance? The choice is yours. He gives us free will, so we can choose to love Him, or not. Because, He loves us. Believing in Jesus is a choice. Loving Him is a choice. And He is calling you to Him so you can make that choice, or not. You don't need a priest, for Jesus is our High Preist. You don't need a church (even though fellowship is crucial to following Jesus). You don't need to clean up first or be good to come to Jesus. Come to Him as you are. Raw and real. Bottom line... You just need to believe in Jesus. We are all born sinners, and that is why Jesus, The Son of God came to earth by a virgin birth, lived a sinless life, died for our sins on the cross, rose again to life on the 3rd day, and ascended to heaven where is lives and reigns until He will come back to earth one day (soon) again to judge all. Turn from your sin, tell Him your sins, and ask for His forgiveness. He's got you, if you want. We hope you choose to believe in Jesus. He tells us, and we know, that when we believe in the true living resurrected Christ Jesus who sits at the right hand of The Father in Heaven, we are saved, and given eternal life.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 ESV
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." John 3:17 ESV
"Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God." John 3:18 ESV
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." John 5:24 ESV
"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40 ESV
"I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” John 8:24 ESV
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 ESV
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9 ESV ‍ "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 ESV
"Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9 ESV
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 ESV ‍ "But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God," John 1:12 ESV
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 ESV
"And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38 ESV
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God," Ephesians 2:8 ESV
And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’ Acts 22:16 ESV ‍
"IÂ wear black for those who have never read or listened to the words that Jesus said." ~Johnny Cash
P.S.: This page is a work in progress and we'd love to hear how we can make it better for others. Please send any ideas, feedback, questions or suggestions for additions to geoff@knotsoflove.org
