Coping Skills

When a “Fire” Hits Your Life, Do You Know How You Will Respond?

May 10, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

By Shelby Boughman Some of you may know the codes for using the fire extinguishers in the event of a fire. The acronym PASS means "Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Spray." Doing so will help you use the fire extinguisher properly so that you may fight whatever flames may be around you. Yesterday, the Lord gave me a new idea for this. Have you ever thought about other ways we can use this code? In Ephesians 6:16, Paul talks about a vital piece to the Armor of God by saying, “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” The enemy is constantly trying to throw fiery darts and battles at us Christians, but we must stand tall and strong, fighting back at Him with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Coping Skills, Loneliness, Ministry - Personal, Spiritually Struggling, Videos, What's New? Tagged With: God, Gospel of Matthew, Jesu, Lord, Lord's Prayer, Prayer

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

52 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend

May 2, 2012 By admin 3 Comments

By Lisa Copen Excerpt from Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend Please do not reprint without permission "A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world." ~Lois Wyse Ask, "What events in your life are changing and how are you coping with the changes?" Understand that she lives in a constant state of making decisions for which there is no guarantee that she is making the right choice. Put meals in disposable containers and attach a note saying "This doesn't need to be returned." Add stickers to envelopes for a cheerful touch. Arrange for your friend's kids to have a night with your children. Don't make a person into a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Beyond Casseroles, Books, Caregiver, Coping Skills, Explaining Illness, Founder's Blog, Friend Has Illness, Friendships, Need to Know, Overwhelmed, Person w/ Illness, Person w/ lll Spouse, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: 50 ways to encourage a chronicall ill friend, 52 ways to help an ill friend, beyond casseroles, Catherine Marshall, Christian, Chronic, God, Health, how to help a sick friend, how to help an ill friend, Illness, lisa copen, ministering to a seriously ill friend, Rest Ministries

Devotion: Illness May Sap My Energy, But I Won’t Let it Touch My Hope

May 1, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 (Corinthians 4:16) Americans love big helpings. My weakness is peanut butter fudge ice cream. And so is Italian food. I’m also a huge fan of caramel apples. In fact, all three would make the perfect meal! But doctors warn us that overindulgence can be bad for our health. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could simply order things that would improve our emotional condition? Are you in despair? How ‘bout ordering a huge helping of "hope"? Anyone--especially those with disabilities--can never have too much of that! Having a disease like multiple sclerosis (MS) can lead to helplessness. My feeble attempts to feel … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coping Skills, Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: Amen., Epistle to the Philippians, God, God the Father, Holy Spirit, hope in illness, hopelessness, illness zaps strength, Jesus, Lord, Psalm

New Book In Store: Stronger Still: A Woman’s Guide to Turning Your Hurt into Healing for Others

April 18, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

This book, Stronger Still: A Woman's Guide to Turning Your Hurt into Healing for Others (Deeper Still), by Edna Ellison is an amazing workbook to hold in your hand and work your way through if you are trying to figure out how to use the pain in your life to encourage other people. We have it available now at the Rest Ministries shop. I am happy to be able to call Edna a friend through a Christian women writers organization, but even I didn't know all that she had experienced in her life until I read this book. This woman has every right to write about her journey with suffering and how to use it for God's plans. This is an interactive 6-week Bible study that helps guide the reader through her pain and to a point where she can see how … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Books, Caregiver, Church Leader, Coping Skills, HopeKeepers Resources, Links, Ministry - Personal, Need to Know, Person w/ Illness, Reflection, RM Volunteer, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: bible study, book, Christian, Chronic, chronic pain support group, God, Healing, Health, illness support group, lead a group, Leadership, Ministry, Pain, personal, Religion and Spirituality, Rest Ministries, small group leader, start a small group, support group resources, women's ministry, women's ministry resources, workbook

How I Use Writing as a Tool in My Counseling Sessions With God

March 27, 2012 By admin Leave a Comment

By Linda Newton I have stumbled onto a tool that has been very helpful when I get stuck and I can’t let go and let God. I have named this tool my “Counseling Sessions With God,” and here’s why. As a counselor for the past twenty-five years, I have a lot of experience with how counseling sessions flow. The client comes in, shares his/or her presenting issue, talks for a while, then expects the counselor to sum things up, and offer clarity regarding what was presented. With this pattern in mind, I idle down in my Divine Counselor’s office, under a tree, beside a rock, at my desk, anywhere in the universe will do since He owns it all. Then I put my pen to the paper and write out what is consuming my thoughts. I slow down … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Coping Skills, Spiritually Struggling, What's New? Tagged With: Book of Proverbs, Books of Kings, Christ, God, linda newton, Lord, Psalms, Thought

Be Encouraged and Continue to Daily Persevere

March 1, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

By Chelsey-Ann Fernandez Lawrence When I was 17, my parents told me that there were three times I almost died in the ICU. One time, I stopped breathing. The other time, my blood pressure fell really low. Another time, I was losing a great deal of blood and nobody knew why. When I recovered, the doctors called me "the miracle child" because they couldn't believe it when, within a week after waking up from my coma, I was talking, walking (as much as I could anyway), and laughing again. At 17 I was given a second chance at life Looking back, I wonder if I made the most of this second chance in life. I did change my life direction. I went from planning on going to law school to planning a career in human services. I sought to volunteer … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Coping Skills, What's New? Tagged With: Blake Shelton, Business, Canada, Chelsey, God, Health, Trinity Western University, United States

Q&A: How Can I Let People Know Their Perfume is Making Me Sick?

January 5, 2012 By admin 7 Comments

I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and when people who are wearing perfume want to hug me they transfer their scent to my clothing! How can we let people know that their perfume is having the opposite intended effect on some people? That to someone with MCS, their perfume is about 20 times more intense and nauseating! I'm not comfortable saying, "Hi there! No offense, but your perfume makes me gag! No, I can't sit next to you!" If I were king, I'd lump perfume with cigarette smoke and ban it in public places! Sorry you perfume lovers-- nothing personal. I am just trying to breathe and be healthy. --Semi-silent sufferer, attending church on-line Dear Semi-silent sufferer, You are definitely not alone! Although many assume this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Church Leader, Coping Skills, Help! Q/A, Invisible Illnesses, Links, Person w/ Illness Tagged With: asthma, chemical sensitivities, chemicals, Chronic Illness, fragrance free, mcs, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Perfume Free

When One Word Prayers Are All You Can Handle

December 14, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

When the pain is excruciating, when it takes all you have just to stay conscious. . . When you know you need the Lord but you cannot read the Word, you cannot focus, you can barely form the sentences to say a prayer. . . can you whisper a word? Just a word, as a prayer? Yes! Recently during Rest Ministries Fall Bible Study many people shared that they do this, or are learning to do it. God understands even when our prayers don't make sense If you have ever felt like you could barely put a complete sentence together, don't not pray. "The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with sighs too deep for words." (Romans 8:26) Sighing the name of "Jesus" will always … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Coping Skills, Depression, Person w/ Illness, What's New?, Worry Tagged With: God, Jesus, Lord, Prayer, Rest Ministries

What We Can Learn From Mary While Living with Chronic Illness

December 7, 2011 By admin 4 Comments

During this time of year when we are celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ we can easily grow to have the Christmas story sound casual since we have heard it so many times. Mary rode a donkey, there was no room in the inn, and she gave birth to Jesus in a stable, with a star overhead. I always love to take a second look at this story, however, to find a fresh perspective on it and to personalize it. This year, as I looked more closely at the life of Mary, I saw certain traits that we all can learn from, especially those with chronic illness. Mary surrendered her own will to God's plans “'I am the Lord’s servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.'” (Luke 1:38) Mary was just a girl who had dreams of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Coping Skills, Holidays, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: God, Jesus, Joseph, Lord, Luke, Mary, Rest Ministries, San Diego

Preparing Your Holiday Priorities When Chronically Ill

November 15, 2011 By admin 1 Comment

Many people are eager to start the chaos of preparing for the holidays, including baking, decorating, shopping and getting together with loved ones. For those with a chronic illness, however, there can be a sense of dread because our desires are much like the rest of the population, but we know our bodies will never hold up to all of the things that we would like to do. "When I think of the holidays, I immediately think of all of the things I need to do and then I am tired just thinking about it," says Karon, who lives with lupus and fibromyalgia. "I used to love to bake and do cookie exchanges. I decorated the whole house. Now just thinking about getting a tree seems overwhelming." As believers, Christmas is a time of celebrating the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Coping Skills, Founder's Blog, Holidays, Person w/ Illness, What's New?

When Illness Threatens to Make You Feel Invisible

November 8, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

I once heard the comparison that life with chronic illness was sort of like "living in the parenthesis." It can sound like a bad Christmas letter. . . We have had the most fabulous year (despite mom being in the hospital a couple of weeks). We had a wonderful trip to the lake and went camping (mom stayed in a motel nearby) and everyone waterskiied and sunbathed (except mom, she can't be in the sun or ski so she just watched from under a canopy). We went to see the caves (mom couldn't walk the stairs so she just rested at the motel). We are looking forward to getting together with you this year (Mom can't travel so we hope you can visit us!) Does life ever feel that way? Over in the Rest Ministries Sunroom Bet shared her heart on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Coping Skills, Founder's Blog, Invisible Illnesses, Loneliness, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, God, Gospel of Matthew, Invisibility, Jesus, Lord, Martha, Mary