HopeKeepers Magazine is Out

HopeKeepers Magazine Sample – Read 18 Pages Free!

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New 64-Page Digital Magazine Offers Spiritual Support to Chronically Ill

Over 100 million Americans live with a chronic condition and despite what we may assume, 60% of are between the ages of 18 and 64.1 This is nearly 1 in 2 people. HopeKeepers is a consumer magazine which offers spiritual support to those who live with a chronic condition, such as fibromyalgia, diabetes, or degenerative heart disease. It’s published by Rest Ministries, Inc. a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. It began in 2003, but has now moved to a digital format to be able to reach more people and double its size from a digest version to 8.5 x 11. You can read 18 pages for free at www.hopekeepersmagazine.com .

This 64-page publication subtitled “joyfully serving the chronically ill,” is Christian in nature, and addresses diverse topics such as spiritual struggles, family challenges,>> read more

Health Hero Award Thank You!

Well, it was officially announced last week, I won the “audience choice” award for the Our Bodies Ourselves contest as the Women’s Health Hero. I was thrilled and planned to blog about it right away, but then I kept reading through all the nice things you wrote, and bawled. And then read some more. And felt so unworthy.

>> read more

One of Our Best Sales This Year!

HopeNotes #58 – 03.04.09 – Letter From Lisa

Hi Friends,

I kept waiting for some words of wisdom or inspiration to hit me to write in my note today. Honestly, I am just tired. I awoke at 6 a.m. hearing my son cough, and so eventually got up at 6:30. He was fine and went off to school, but I’ve dragged through the day, finally laying down from 1:30 to 2, setting my alarm before picking Josh up at school.

Ever have some days you just want to crawl under the covers
and ignore all the little responsibilities? For me it’s not the big ones that take the time, but the little things add up.. Today for example, I took my empty toner cartridges to the school to donate for the PTA, figured out what to buy for a “sundae basket” to be auctioned off at the school, filled out Josh’s Tae Kwon Do task sheet so he can get a  star, had a friend over to play (not me… my son), answered about 50 emails, worked on the magazine, figured out tomorrow’s radio program and my husband is getting dinner out of a can (clam chowder… hey, not so bad, right?).

Writing about it makes me feel a bit better. Just like Claudette’s interview last Tuesday, we all feel like we are not doing enough. Personally, I need to go back and listen to it myself!

I read this verse today and it seemed to give me reassurance:

“I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”

Isn’t that a nice reminder that God will lead us (even when we cannot see) through new paths! I’m clinging to that one every time I feel in over my head!

I hope you enjoy this week’s issue of HopeNotes and that you will join me tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. pacific for3our radio show Hope Endures as we talk about all thing support groups!

God bless you and thank you for your daily encouragement!

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

Yes! I can make a donation to help Rest Ministries continue their outreach!

Do You Want Illness Articles on Your Web Site?

Lisa now has a blog of just chronic illness articles that are free to reprint and also a “widget” of code you can put on your web site of just her articles about chronic illness. This replaces former code many people were having difficulty with. Click here to set it up.

HopeNotes #57 – 2.25.09 – Letter From Lisa

> View this issue of HopeNotes in your web browser

Hi, Friends,

It’s hard to believe another week has passed already. Some weeks seem to drag by and some seem to go quickly, don’t they? I’ve been getting used to my “new kind of normal.” That means my feet have been swollen and I sprain my ankle a few times a day. I’ve been sore all week as a storm has been “wanting to arrive” but hasn’t. I’ve used emotional energy fighting over bills that I don’t think are correct. And yet, being able to do ministry stuff has been keeping all of these other things in their correct place right now — as just parts of life, like the rest of yours.

The podcasts twice a week have been an encouragement to me, as I’ve had the chance to get to know our guests even better. I’ve also been working on HopeKeepers Magazine and reading through so amazing testimonies and stories of people who are still turning to God, even during their most trying times.

Joshn 3:16 says, “”I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I’ve heard this verse many times, but the other day I heard it in a new way. God says, “I have overcome the world…” Not, “I will overcome the world.” God already knows what the stock market will do next week What medications that may not be approved by our insurance; what infection we may fight; what our families may have to cope with. But he has already overcome it.

So although it is a trial and a trouble we have in this world, we have to cling to the fact that God has already overcome it. By giving his Son to save us and the ability for the Holy Spirit to touch our lives each day, we can feel the assurance that it’s all been taken care of.

As much as I believe this, a part of me fears that I am talking the talk and God will want to “create more character” by making me “walk the walk.” I hope when I am tested I can withstand the test.

God bless you and thank you for your daily encouragement!

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

Yes! I can make a donation to help Rest Ministries continue their outreach!

Books – People DO Understand!

Think no one gets your illness? Guess what? Some people
really do… here are some of our favorites from
authors who understand!

Why Can’t I Make People Understand? Discovering the
Validation Those With Chronic Illness Seek and Why

By Lisa Copen
Regularly $14.00
Just $12.00

You Look So Good!
By Sherri Connell
Just $6.00

Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to
Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend
By Lisa Copen
Regularly $7.00
Just 3 for $15 or $6 each

“Not By Sight” helps friends and
family to see the courage and faith that abounds
in those with debilitating conditions.
$7.50

Just Fine: Unmasking Concealed Chronic Illness And Pain
By Carol Sveilich
Regularly $15.95
Just $14.50

Article to Reprint: 5 Ways to Create Clear Positive Thoughts to Help Relieve Pain

REPRINT LISA’S ARTICLES FOR FREE!

(or other RM stuff)

NEW THIS WEEK!

Lisa’s Latest Article:

5 Ways to Create Clear Positive Thoughts to Help Relieve Pain

Have Mosaic Moments Devotions with You Always

We will soon have our first Kindle edition
of a book available. Mosaic Moments should go “live” any day. If you own the Amazon Kindle be sure to check check it out. And it’s retails for less than $8 since it’s all digital!

HopeNotes #55 – 2.4.09 – Letter from Lisa

>read in your web browser

Hi Friends,

Well… I am back! I think! I’ve been experiencing that saying, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” Thank you for all the prayers of encouragement as I’ve been recovering.

In a nutshell (skip if you don’t want to hear my ails… it’s okay.) [ As many of you now I have rheumatoid arthritis. This fall during Invisible Illness Week I got cellulitis, which turned into a wound, which got the flesh eating bacteria... Hence 7 days in the hospital. 3 weeks of IVs at home, flaring from lack of RA drugs since August, the flu Christmas eve, and then the cough that lasted weeks, causing flaring in my back and sides bad enough that I couldn't sit up or stand some days without help. I am feeling a bit better, still of meds for awhile and needing to meet with the hand surgeon for the surgery that was to have happened during September. ]

But God has been at work and I even “took notes” so I could write up some articles after I felt better and remember the humor in all of it. I so am excited about all that we are doing at Rest Ministries to tighten things up and create a more supportive environment. My son started Kindergarten in August, we went straight into II Week, and life has not been “normal” since. I am finally enjoying some time to pray about the ministry and work on our future (and not feel like my head is in medication fog).

Here are some highlights:

Radio Show Starts Next Week
One exciting piece of news! I am kicking off our first Hope Endures radio podcast next week, Feb 10th and 12th. If you participated in Invisible Illness Week seminars, it’s the same idea. You log on to the internet and hear us live. Details are below. I will send out an additional email in the next few days with more info too.

HopeKeepers Magazine out Mid-March
HopeKeepers Magazine is in the works. We are going digital since we are still in debt from the last print job. But at least we aren’t shutting down like dozens of magazines. We know many of you have questions, and I have tried to answer all your HK Magazine questions here, so check out our FAQ before emailing me, and you will get a faster response, K?

Help Needed!
With all of these changes and addition, I have a HUGE need for more volunteers. Many of you have signed up to volunteer but were waiting to see the right place to plug in. I will soon announce a list of places we need your help! I really can’t do this without you, so please consider volunteering some of your time and expertise (whether it’s web research or praying for others.) If you’ve never signed up to be a volunteer, you can fill out an application here and you will be sure to be notified when we post the new positions.

I know that some things have fallen through the cracks in the last few months. I thank you for hanging in there with me. I am working on our new storefront too, so soon ordering will be much easier. We’ve been very pleased with our new shipping company and being able to contract this out has been a Godsend for me. It’s the reason I have the time for the podcast and other things now too.

Lastly, if you’re married or have a special someone, I invite you to join me and pray for your husband for the next 37 days (it started February 1st) with the Facebook group, “40 Days of Prayer for our Husbands (or serious other).” Over 700 women are praying! Every day you will receive an email telling you what to pray for and something to do. Encouragement too… for those of us (like me) that fail within hours (the first step being “don’t say anything negative to your spouse.”)

Thanks for all your prayers,

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

Yes! I can make a donation to help Rest Ministries continue their outreach!