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.

 

What Pastors Need to Know About Using Facebook

This free ebook, “Facebook for Pastors” is 31 pages packed full of all the reasons pastors should be using Facebook and how it really can be worth their time. Do your pastor a favor and email him this information avaiable at our web site page for pastors at http://www.restministries.org/professions/prof-pastors.htm#9 Either he will thank you for the info and dive right in, or he will at least be able to figure out what this “facebook” thing is all about and choose what to do with the information. This great resource is written (and donated!) by Chris Forbes, the founder of Ministry Marketing Coach. He speaks and writes on the subjects of ministry marketing, faith-based nonprofit marketing, social marketing, and Guerrilla Marketing for nonprofits.

 

New Web Site Coming This Weekend!

We are excited for you to visit our site and check out the hundreds of resource links. For example, we have a lot of pages dedicated to health resource links.

These include:

• Ministries about Bio-ethics and Theology Issues
• Blogs we Like
• Chronic Pain Resources
• Christian Illness Resources
• How to Help a Co-Worker with a Serious Illness
• How to Organize Care for an Ill Friend
• Health Resources
• Christian Health Resources
• Disability Christian Ministry Resources
• Disability Interfaith Resources
• Nursing Home Ministries

… and lots more! Are pages will always be changing as new resources are found or available. We look forward to your suggestions of web sites and resources that you’ve found that you think we’d love.

 

Find a Pen Pal at the Sunroom

Be sure to visit our Sunroom to join in for some excellent discussions!

And 35 people have signed up who are looking for a pen pal! Want to make a new friend who “speaks your language” and doesn’t laugh when you say you’re too tired to do the dishes (and you actually have a dishwasher)? What are you waiting for? Head on over to our pen pal group and see if anyone’s profile sounds like a good fit!

Here are a few topics people blogged on this week.

I love coming here because I don’t have to feel self-conscious about not feeling well and I especially love this forum because the people are so positive within their circumstances! My nest will be empty fairly soon - My daughter is getting married this Oct, and my middle son the following May, 2009. I still will have one at home but he is graduating (God provide) this June and will be working full-time. My husband travels a bit and I am so thankful to be able to come here when I can’t leave the house!

Tonight I can feel myself tottering on the edge of depression - not really there, but unsettled and almost worried. It’s been what I call an “okay” day - not too much pain, at least one small thing accomplished, pj’s on and ready for bed. But I can feel myself lingering over small worries, picking at things I’ve said or left unsaid, things I’ve wanted to do but couldn’t or just plain didn’t. Somehow stuck in my own stubborness - defiantly falling into the trap set by the enemy … and myself.

I thought I was strong but every now and then I do become week. That proves that I am not perfect and it’s okay to face that fact. I am coming along much better than I was on Saturday. Now it is Monday and I have made some progress. I am still growing but once I remember to read and listen to encouraging things I know that I would be fine.

We want to thank everyone who is participating for just “getting real” in our Sunroom. It’s a place where we can pray and turn to God for strength, but we also don’t have to pretend that life is easy or that there aren’t dark moments, even within our faith. You’re making a ministry that is amazing and life-changing for everyone who enters our web site!

 

Lots of Topics to Discuss at Our Web Site

Lisa thought this last week would be the week the web site went live, but with her sis visiting she actually slept (from exhaustion!) rather than working all night. So… she is testing a couple of pages right now and by the time your read HopeNotes this next week it should be up. She’s so excited for you to see the changes!

Have you been to our Sunroom lately? These are just a few of the topics people are posting on and we’d love to hear your feedback!

• Giving the problem to God as soon as it appears
• What are the symptoms that seem to bother you the most?
• Lonliness and Illness
• Neurostimulator Implants and RSD
• Pets as Therapy
• Favorite Scriptures
• New Ways to Explain Fibromyalgia

Be sure to visit our Sunroom to join in for some excellent discussions!

 

“How Has Your Illness Blessed You?”

When Rest Ministries Sunroom member, “Tammohawk” asked this question in the Sunroom, little did she expect to quickly have 40 replies.

Ann says, “I have so much more grace for people! Little things just don’t annoy me with others much anymore. I realize how life deals everyone difficult circumstances, and my heart is softer towards others.”

Leslie says, “More than ever before, Heaven has become a reality I look forward to…not that I want to get there a minute before my appointed time, but the thought of a pain-free heavenly body gives me a thrill!”

Brenda shares, “It’s drawn me int to a deeper relationship with the Lord, provided me opportunites to be a tool to testify for Him and given me a renewed purpose for staying alive. My illneses have made me more sensititive to others and there illnesses. (More understading of others and their needs).”

Angela admits, “I watch the news in the morning and I thank God that I do not have to drive the 28 miles on the I-565 Winston 500 speedway.”

Donna says, “I’ve learned to ‘let go’ and not try to be a control freak! I can do things at my own pace, spend more quiet time with the Lord and have been more available to my grown children and parents, as best I can. God has raised my husband up and he has been wonderul and supportive. I can find unique ways to witness at the grocery store, pharmacy, post office, etc.”

Be sure to visit our Sunroom to join in for some excellent discussions!

 

Does your husband have a chronic illness? Your wife?

We have groups for both of these! A man’s group for those with a chronically ill wife and a woman’s group for those who have a husband with an illness. Check it out here.

And what if your spouse doesn’t believe you are actually ill? Here is an article to read.

 

Rest Ministries Sunroom Connects Many People

We’ve started a social network
Rest Ministries Sunroom is at http://www.restministriessunroom.com and in just a month we have over 200 members. This is a “social network” of Ning. It’s easy! You can just visit the webpage and wander around to view the messages people have written or you can join and the create your own page with your favorite photos, videos, music, blog and more. You’ll also find links for the daily devotionals, Lisa’s blog and new articles on the Rest Ministries web site! “I’m really excited about how people are connecting,” says Lisa, “and it’s great to see everyone’s photos and read about them. Plus we have lots of men participating, so that’s great to see.”

As heard in the Sunroom…”Thanks for creating this social network. I’ve made new friends & hope to support others, as I’ve been supported in the past!” -Randall