Attitude

Is There Such a Thing as Being Too Nice?

May 3, 2012 By admin 3 Comments

By Leslie Vernick Do you ever find yourself saying "yes" when you want to (or should) say "no"? For example, several years back, a graduate student asked me if I thought she would make a good counselor. I knew her gifts weren't strongest in that area, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings. She left our conversation believing I thought she was capable. We all do it. We say "yes" when our honest response should be "no." But let's take a look at the cost of being too nice. We Hurt People It amazes me how unaware we are of how we injure people by being too nice. Isn't that why we're nice to begin with? We don't want to hurt people? When I wasn't completely honest with my intern, I unintentionally hurt her. She spent time, energy, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Attitude, Coping Skills, Friendships, Hurt Feelings, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: being honest, Bible, boundaries, can you be too polite, christian faith, counselor, Debbie, Friendships, God, Jesu, kindness, leslie vernick, Lord, Lydia, manners, Oswald Chambers, setting limits, too nice, truthfulness

You Are God’s Messenger Today For Someone Who is Hurting

April 24, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

By Donna Riner Weber Numerous items fell onto the bed as I dumped the contents of my purse. One especially drew my attention--a post card of 4 adorable white fuzzy, fluffy puppies. It reminded me of the mini-type postcards that I like to share. I purchase the little 15 cent variety from the Christian Book Stores. Adorable baby animals create the backdrop for a Bible verse on one side. On the opposite side I usually write a Bible verse or some type of message I feel God leads me to write. I place these in restaurants, hotel rooms, restrooms etc.--wherever, God leads. Then I pray for the person whom God will lead to the little card. It brings pleasure to me as I sprinkle these in various places as we travel. Although I love to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Attitude, Reflection, Spiritually Struggling, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic pain, purpose in the pain, Scrapbook Your Christian Faith, tracts, you are god's messenger

What is the Hardest Part of Living with Illness? Your Responses!

January 24, 2012 By admin 7 Comments

What is the hardest part of living with a chronic illness? Well, it depends on who you are asking, what time of day you are asking, and a million other factors. Yet, we all have so much in common and we can understand the challenges of the friend beside us even if we don't deal with it ourselves. We all feel "called" to certain things, and not being able to do them--from homeschooling to making dinner--is difficult when we don't feel we can do what we, and others, expect from our self. And the fact that it is invisible . . . well, that makes many of the struggles even more painful as we feel we must justify a housekeeper or a parking placard. We asked you, "What is the hardest part of living with illness?" and here are your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Attitude, What's New?, Working Tagged With: challenges, Chronic, Chronic (medicine), chronically ill challenges, Conditions and Diseases, coping, difficulties, Fatigue (medical), Fibromyalgia, frustrations with illness, God, hard living with illness, Health, Illness, Pain, Polycystic ovary syndrome, suffering, things that are hard to cope with when ill

My Blue Rocking Chair

November 11, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

It's uncomfortable to sit in. You barely can relax before it tips and you feel like it will dump you backwards. But I like how it makes me feel. I got it at a discount store, and it was white. Eventually the hot sun cracked the paint. It slivered off like small pieces of icicle coating my patio. I bought deep red paint for it. I like red. It's bold, energizing. I need more energy. Red is good. My parents came to visit. Dad painted it for me and left it out in the grass to dry. The next morning. . . "Are those sprinklers?" Dad asked. "Yes, why?" Long pause. . . "The chair!" he yells and runs out to the grass. Streaked paint. The red paint was now called "primer." One day I am listening to one of my favorite … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Attitude, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New?

Think About . . . Not Being Sick

August 23, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

I am lying in bed trying to get comfortable. I've flipped my pillow over a dozen times. Covers off, covers on. Heating pad. Ice pack. I am sick. And I am grumpy. I had the week planned. Fun times with son before school starts, play date with kids and movie on Wednesday. I am to get my first 5-hour infusion of a new drug Friday with babysitter all arranged, husband driving me there and getting off work early to bring me home. Plans with friends on Saturday night if I feel up to it after the infusion. Instead I find myself trying to decide between nibbling on a saltine or a Ritz. What would be more likely for me to keep down? I have nothing positive to find in this I say to myself. People would be so disappointed in me. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Attitude, This is Me, What's New? Tagged With: California, God, husband, Lord, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, San Diego, United States

My Grandmother’s Table

August 15, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

1954. My mother's mother got a new table. My mother was in third grade. Each day she came home from school and sat at it and had popcorn and grape juice. Now it sits in my home. My grandmother has been in heaven for over a decade. Her table traveled 1500 miles to reside in my kitchen. I have photos of me sitting in a baby bathtub on this table. I sat at it as a child. Grandma, can I have one more piece of cobbler? Even as a child I remember my grandmother's Bible sitting on this table. When I sit at it, I can feel her love. When I read my Bible at it, I feel God's love. My grandmother had feet that were very broken down. She always wore special shoes to help her keep walking. Grandma would sit down at this table after a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Attitude, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New? Tagged With: Family, God, Grandparent, Home, Mother, Parenting, Rest Ministries, San Diego

Saturday Morning Obstacles

August 12, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

Without hesitation I get out of bed. . . Ugh! The knee won't bend. I cannot put weight on it. A tiny piece of bone has moved into a place it should not be sometime during the night. And it is stuck. Oh, not today, Lord. Pleee-eee--ase, not today. If only we could be pain-free on the weekends. I lean over on the bed with my arms and try to bend and unbend the knee as my husband snores. He got home from work sometime around midnight. It was a deadline day. It was an impossible deadline. He worked 15-hour days all week and still didn't make the deadline. He will have to go back into work today, Saturday. I try putting weight on my foot again. Wince. Moan. I try to vocalize my pain quietly. I limp to the living room. Chair. I need a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Attitude, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New? Tagged With: Health, Home, Medical Specialties, Medicine, Mother, Rest Ministries, San Diego, Saturday morning cartoon

Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy – Excerpt From New Book By Maureen Pratt

July 26, 2011 By admin 5 Comments

How do we find joy in the midst of suffering? How do we rise above our pain and attain lives of purpose and bright light? This work focuses on the story of Job and the life of Jesus to show that pain can encourage, nurture, and help us find joy--if we keep the faith! Note: The following article is an excerpt from Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy, reprinted with permission of author, Maureen Pratt. Many of you know Maureen as you have read her previous book, Peace in the Storm and watched Rest Ministries founder, Lisa Copen, on Maureen's TV show of the same name. This book is available at Amazon (where you can read Lisa Copen's review) among other places. JESUS: Our Light and Our Hope . . .but we even boast of our afflictions, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Attitude, Books, Spiritually Struggling, What's New? Tagged With: finding peace through trials, maureen pratt, peace in the storm

Moments That Take My Breath Away:

June 21, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

Darlene Palermo Fatigue was taking over my body. I barely had enough energy to dress myself or prepare a simple meal. Earlier that year I had noticed other changes in my physical health. My feet shuffled along, feeling as if they were too heavy to lift, and a slight tremor moved my left hand involuntarily. I dismissed these symptoms as part of the aging process and tried to get more sleep, assuming I was just overtired. Having been out of work for six months, beginning a new job was a challenge. I suspected the symptoms were evidence of a serious disease. One month after being hired, I went to a chiropractor who suggested I see a neurologist. This doctor visit launched my battle with a condition with which I was unfamiliar. The … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Attitude, Depression, Share Your Story, What's New? Tagged With: California, God, parkinsons disease, Prayer, Psalm, Psalm 27, Southern California, The Lord Is My Light

You Are Blessed

March 15, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Available at Etsy, Click Photo for Details

It is always good to keep perspective and search for some blessings that surround us we may not even see. You are blessed... If you own just one Bible, you are abundantly blessed; 1/3 of the world does not have access to even one. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive the week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people around the world. If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, or torture of death, you are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world. If you have food in your … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Attitude, Poems, What's New?

Soul Surfer The Movie Releases 4/8; The Biography of Bethany Hamilton

March 14, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

SOUL SURFER is the inspiring true story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm in a shark attack and courageously overcame all odds to become a champion again. Based on the Bethany Hamilton bio, the Soul Surfer movie has already inspired millions of people worldwide through the love of her family, her sheer determination, and her unwavering faith in Jesus Christ. The biography of Bethany Hamilton is pretty amazing: Soul Surfer casting is an all-star team, including AnnaSophia Robb and Helen Hunt, with Carrie Underwood in her film debut, and Dennis Quaid. The Soul Surfer movie release date is April 8th. You can find out more details at the Soul Surfer IMBD web site, or www.bethanyhamilton.com , or read the biography of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Attitude, Church Leader, Events, Links, Parent of Ill or Disabled Child, Person w/ Illness, Support Group Leader, Teen w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: AnnaSophia Robb, Bethany Hamilton, bethany hamilton bio, bethany hamilton books, biography of bethany hamilton, Carrie Underwood, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Jesus Christ, pics of bethany hamilton, Shark attack, Soul Surfer, Soul Surfer book, Soul Surfer casting, soul surfer movie, soul surfer movie release date, soul surfer the movie, www.bethanyhamilton.com

Book Review: Twelve Ways to Turn Your Pain Into Praise: Biblical Steps to Wholeness in Christ

March 1, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

"Twelve Ways to Turn Your Pain Into Praise: Biblical Steps to Wholeness in Christ" by Linda Newton Review by Lisa Copen Linda's book is an excellent book for anyone to read, however, as the director of a Christian ministry for those with illness, I found it a great tool specifically for those trying to overcome depression or frustrations associated with illness. Linda was a guest on my Hope Endures radio podcast and continues to encourage many people through the archived show each week. There are 3 elements that made this book stand out for me: (1) Linda provides helpful tools that give the reader simple projects at the end of each chapter so that there is something constructive s/he can do to reach the place Linda speaks … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Attitude, Books, Spiritually Struggling, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, Christianity, First Epistle of John, God, linda newton, lisa copen, Religion & Spirituality, Rest Ministries, Twelve Ways to Turn Your Pain Into Praise: Biblical Steps to Wholeness in Christ