Letter from Lisa – HopeNotes #38

Hi Friends,

My brilliant plant to send out a newsletter last week while I was visiting my family in Oregon fell short. I’ve been feeling EX-HAUS-TED as I am sure many of you are too. Weather changes, schedule changes (i.e., no school for kids) and those irritating things called illness in our lives can really mess with the plans, huh?

So. . . at last HopeNotes is here and don’t worry, I am going to send out another one by the end of the week because I just have too many resourceful goodies I want to share to get much further behind.

I won’t bore you with details, but if you could keep Rest Ministries in your prayers it would be appreciated. I am trying to get ready to leave again for the Christian retail show July 10th in Florida as well as plan Invisible Illness Week. I have no energy (and even lack some enthusiasm) plus, this is the tightest money has ever been for our ministry. Personally, I’m feeling it too! We are trying to eat out a lot less, clip coupons, only buy necessities, and drive less. Watch the next newsletter for some ways to share how you are finding ways to cut your costs.

Also pray for our many volunteers who are coping with ill spouses, cancer, grand babies who are sick, etc. Despite the setbacks in their lives, I’ve never seen such an amazing group of people who stand firm in God’s love and continue to share it with others, despite their own losses and pain. You all amaze me every day and I am blessed to call you my friend.

This isn’t a request for you to send money when you are just trying to pay the bills and for your medicine, but it is a request for you to pray for God to provide in whatever way He sees fit. I’ve seen Him do it many times. He knows our needs to keep the ministry going and He’s in charge. So thanks for lifting it up to Him!

Thanks for all your prayers,

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

Poll – What do you and your spouse do for fun?

We recently received this question and think many of you can relate!

“My husband and I have a terrible time coming up with things to do together. We are pretty much homebodies by choice. I have so many physical limitations with pain and chemical sensitivities it is hard. Plus even when I was healthy my husband didn’t want to go do much. I have lots of food problems and can’t even eat out. We watch movies together, cable T.V., cook together, cook for the kids when they have time (they are grown), and go to church together.( Although I have been unable to attend church for the last year and a half due to a new building and can now only go 30 minutes a couple of times a month). I don’t want to bore you with more details but I am sure others have similar troubles.

We are fresh out of ideas. We need fun things to do for couples where one person has lots of limitations and limited money for entertainment. I can’t take long rides in the car anymore and I walk every day but my husband is on his feet a lot at work so he really doesn’t want to do that. So we are out of new ideas. Thanks for listening and maybe something or some suggestions will come out of this question that would help lots of other couples too. Got to keep these marriages strong. Thank you for all you do and God Bless You! Regards, Sarah”

So, what do YOU and your spouse do together just for fun? List a few ideas (we have categories: free, under $25, and $25-$50)

Tell us!

New Book on Christian Response to Those with Illness

 

Not By Sight

A new book by the authors of You Look So Good! this one digs deepers into the faith issues of illness and the questions people have.

This is a book you will think, “I could have written this if I could have found a way to put it all into words!” It describes all the things healthy people assume about ill people, and a Christian response is given.

For example, has soemone every thought this about you?
“They CHOOSE not to be involved!” or “They should stop asking for help and start helping” or “They are not TRYING to get better…”

The second half of the book explains more effective ways to encourage those with illness.

Read the table of contents too for more details. Excellent and a book every church library should own!

Just $7.50 – ORDER TODAY

Lisa is Attending Christian Retail Show

Lisa leaves for Flordia in a couple of weeks for the International Christian Retail Show in Orlando. First she will be attending a Christian writers women’s group annual retreat. She will also be mentoring for CLASServices for the two sessions of Book Proposal Blitz. The plan is that her parents will drive from Oregon to San Diego 7/7 and 7/8. Then 7/10 Lisa and her mom will go to Florida. Lisa’s husband will have to be working overtime a lot so Lisa’s dad will hang out with Josh. Pray for all of them!

With Lisa’s rheumatoid arthritis and her mom’s diabetes they aren’t the best of travelers and Josh has loads of energy to keep “Papa” on his toes! Lisa will be signing books, meeting with media, talking with publishers, etc. It’s a time of networking and gaining new relationships.

Hard to Find Books Now on Rest Ministries Niche Sites

Whether you are a spouse who has an ill husband or a parent of a child with a chronic illness you will likely find that the page at our web site now has a wide array of books available from Amazon.com. “Many of these books are a great resource but are often hard to find,” says Lisa. “We hope by taking your recommendations, reviewing them ourselves, and more, we can offer you some terrific support that you may not be able to easily locate otherwise.”

And with every purchase Rest Ministries gets a percentage too, so you are helping us out as well. There are book recommendations for pastors, doctors, nurses, caregivers, and even those wanting to reach out to chronically ill friend.

Is life overcoming you…or are you overcoming life?

That was a question that seemed like a no brain-er to answer many years ago. You see, I was one of the most conceited, arrogant, self-centered girls there were. It was all about me, me and me. I was convinced the earth and everything in it, revolved around me. My physical image and material things meant everything to me. I elevated myself on a pedestal, knowing I was the best thing since sliced bread. So yes…you can say I thought I was overcoming life – no problem.

But I would soon find out that the life I thought was reality and what was actually real, were two entirely different things. It was a merciful awakening! It was a severe mercy! But it most definitely was not either of those things when the crisis hit.

My world, my false perception of the perfect world, was falling apart. All I could think at the time was that God (who I didn’t give the time of day to) had let me down. “What did I do to deserve this?”, “Why me?” Again…everything was “me” focused.

I was diagnosed with a rare muscle disease (Muscular Dystrophy), which severely limits me physically. It’s ironic, I used to worship my body – my physical appearance was what identified me. After eight years with this chronic disease, I’ve gotten to know my Creator. He has given me the gift of time (while I am disability), and has allowed me to draw close to Him and learn.

It’s as though a veil was lifted from my eyes and now I can see so much clearer. I have an entirely new perspective. My life has radically changed. Things that used to be important to me are now of little significance, and vice versa. I can see God work through this illness by giving me the privilege of comforting others – only because of the comfort He has given me.

It’s frustrating having this muscle disease, but it means everything to me to know that I have a Savior, and He lives. He is a very present help in my time of need. It also helps to know that Jesus is a Man of Sorrows, and he understands what it’s like to be one of us with all of this craziness happening to our bodies (and our souls). He learned obedience from His suffering. We just need to keep reminding ourselves that God has a great plan for us, and we need (I need) to meditate on Romans 8:28…”God works ALL things out for the good of those that love Him and who are called according to His purpose.”

So now I can confidently say, that because with God, I can overcome anything!

Lori Laws is overcoming Muscular Dystrophy. She lives in Bethlehem, PA with her husband Michael. Her passion is to share her life experiences to let people know where hope truly comes from. People may contact me via email

In the Word

“Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person. Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time” or “Try me tomorrow” when the money’s right there in your pocket. Don’t figure ways of taking advantage of your neighbor when he’s sitting there trusting and unsuspecting.”

Proverbs 3:27, The Message

Do You Have a Pile of Shoes You Can’t Wear?

 

When you have an illness, sometimes you end up with a closet filled with shoes that were never bareable for more than 5 minutes on your feet. Now, instead of letting them pile up and feeling guilty about spending that money, you can donate your new or “gently worn” footwear to Shoes4Soles, a Nashville-based nonprofit that organizes the donations of footwear, which are used to aid the hurting worldwide. Soles4Souls has donated more than 3 million pairs of shoes since its inception (one pair of shoes every 28 seconds).

Send your new or gently worn shoes to one of their warehouse facilities. (Plus you’ll get a tax write off–for shoes! Who knew?)

FDA Approves Cymbalta for the Treatment of Fibromyalgia!

Eli Lilly and Co. announced the FDA approval of Cymbalta (duloxetine HCI) June 17, 2008, for the management of fibromyalgia. This makes Cymbalta the second medication ever to be approved
for fibromyalgia, following Lyrica’s approval in June 2007. Read this article by chronicpainconnection editor, Karen.

Also check out “An Overview for the Newly Diagnosed Patient” from the National Fibromyalgia Association.

Webcast on “Disaster Preparedness When You Have an Illness or Disability”

This is a live webcast on Tuesday, July 1, 2008 at 2:00pm Central. Lex Frieden who is leading the webcast is chairperson of the National Council on Disability, president of Rehabilitation International, and chairperson of the American Association of People with Disabilities. He is credited with defining and pioneering the concept of “independent living” in the early 1970’s.

It will discuss community responsibilities for disaster preparedness and emergency planning with regards to people with disabilities. Each community is required to consider the needs of people with disabilities in their local emergency planning. These plans are supposed to be coordinated with the county, state and federal levels of government. Mr. Frieden will discuss:

• how people with disabilities must be involved in the planning process
• how to develop plans that accommodate people with disabilities
• best practice models for community preparedness
• how the Americans with Disabilities Act impacts planning and execution
• and resources available including http://www.disability911.org

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To link to this webcast and download accompanying materials

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