By Debbi Farmer

One of my favorite hobbies is scrapbooking. I have so many memories that I want to keepsake for others to enjoy down the years. I am often looking for new resources to add to my scrapbooking technique. Perhaps that is why I found this book and web-site to be so fascinating and wanted to share it with you.

Scrapbook Your Christian Faith: The Beginners Guide to Scrapbooking Your Spiritual Legacy by Donna Riner Weber is just one of those many treasures that you have to share with all of your friends. I recently interviewed Donna Riner Weber about her book and website and discovered for myself how to scrapbook my Christian faith.

What is Donna’s story?

One crisp, cool Friday afternoon in September, Donna flipped off the lights in her classroom. She thanked God for the week, her students, and for the upcoming weekend. She didn’t know that she had just taught her last class ever.

Donna had been living with chronic lung diseases which caused her to live a life of doctor’s appointments, medicines, and hospital visits. But with God’s help she had continued to teach.

This time this episode with her illness things were different. This time her life changed. She would never return to her teaching job again. You can read more here on her web site…

Donna, can you tell use about your book and what it is about?

Scrapbook Your Christian Faith: The Beginners Guide to Scrapbooking Your Spiritual Legacy by Donna Riner is presently an e-book (and soon to be in-print book) and was written to help newbies come to understand “how to Faithbook.”

I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying “everyone has a story to tell.” And then there is that old cliché “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Now if you put your words and your pictures together, what do you have? A precious heirloom for your loved ones.

Now, in addition to your words, add some verses from God’s Holy Bible. And now what do you have? A powerful, precious, priceless, love letter for your loved ones and those who will follow you—a keepsake that will last many years longer than you live here on planet earth.

For the Bible tells us “So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.” Isaiah 55:11 (The Message)

When I was new to Faithbooking, I was totally overwhelmed. I tried and tried to find resources but at that time I could not find the right book that would provide me with the help I needed. I did not understand the scrapbook language, the tools, and supplies. I didn’t even know what an embellishment was. It was all confusing, and yes, overwhelming to me.

Yet I wanted to do this. . . I wanted to learn how to leave my spiritual message for my son and granddaughter and other future descendants.

You may be thinking, “instead of going to all this trouble couldn’t you just use a journal?” Yes, you can and perhaps that is the way God will lead you. However, if you take a photo of your grandchild, add some of your own words and then add a scripture beside it, he/she will likely take the time to look at it, read your comments and also read that verse.

Numerous Bible verses instruct us to pass on stories of God’s presence in our lives. Some include:

• “One generation shall praise your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” Psalm 145:3-4 (NASB)
• “Write this down for the next generation so people not yet born will praise God…” Psalm 102:18 (MSG)
• “One generation makes known your faithfulness to the next.” Isaiah 38:19 (TLB)

Knowing this, I realized I wanted to help others learn how to leave their Spiritual Messages for their loved ones without having to go through all the searching and frustration I went through.

So, tell us what you did.

I wrote Scrapbook Your Christian Faith to help beginners to faithbooking learn how to:

• Express love for their family in a priceless keepsake
• Influence the Spiritual Future of their children/grandchildren
• Have a unique way of telling others about Jesus

Scrapbook Your Christian Faith helps the reader seize their opportunity to begin working on one of the greatest gifts they can ever leave their loved ones.

What kinds of stuff does the book teach?

It is about 98 pages and it teaches:

• Basic tools and supplies needed for beginners
• How to incorporate scriptures, prayers and stories into the Faithbook layouts
• Step-by-step lessons on matting and paper piecing
• Examples to jazz up titles
• Scrapbook language

I understand you have some freebie stuff too.

Yes! Readers who would like to learn more are invited to come over to http://www.ScrapbookYourChristianFaith.com. There they can sign up for Free Five Faithbook Lessons. They will also receive Free Faithbook Bits and Pieces approximately once a month.

Ms. Weber; besides a lack of resources, what else inspired you to write this book and start a Faithbook ministry?

“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good. . . to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (TLB)

Over the years Jeremiah 29:11 became “my verse.” I often wrote it on napkins for waitresses, scratch pads in hotel rooms, and on mini-cards, shared it with students and preached it to my son. I really believe that as long as we are here on planet earth that God has a plan for us.

This became very confusing to me as my chronic illness and pain caused me to stop teaching. I felt so frustrated, depressed, and non-productive. I would lie on the sofa and cry day after day and ask God but “What is your Plan for me?”

I knew it wasn’t to lie around on the sofa and wait to die. I kept praying that questioning prayer. “What is Your plan for Me?” What is it that a person like me with a chronic illness and daily pain can do?

God did not immediately answer my question—like I wanted Him to. Rather He began to give me little steps and as I took one step He revealed another one to me.

• First, I began to feel God wanted me to write down stories of how He had been faithful to me and my family.
• When my cousin, Nora, from Chicago came to visit our family, she brought her scrapbook. As I flipped through the beautiful pages, I thought it was so wonderful but I’m not able to do that. I’m not an artist. (I didn’t realize it at the time, but God had planted a seed in my heart.)
• I didn’t know what to do with the stack of stories I had been writing. After praying about it, I became interested in going to Christian Writers Conferences.
• That scrapbooking seed God had planted earlier started to sprout. I had never been interested in creating a scrapbook—but I had this notion that I wanted to go to a class and check it out.

These steps happened over several years. And I still did not realize God was going to call me to combine these new interests. As I learned to create scrapbook layouts I discovered a very vital part of my life was not included in the album. They did not show my relationship with God.

How could I solve that problem? I had written some stories, but how can I put them into my layouts?
I attended Christian Writer’s Conferences and Scrapbook classes and conventions. I learned from each one—but nothing taught me how to mesh these two concepts. And I began to search for books to help me combine these new interests. At that time, I could find only 5-6 that were even slightly related to what I wanted to do and none of them solved my problem.

At that point I felt called to write the guide book that I had needed— one that explained how to include our Christian faith in scrapbooking. The result was Scrapbook Your Christian Faith—The Beginners Guide to Scrapbooking Your Spiritual Legacy.

When did the web site come to be?

I learned that in order to market this book I needed a web-site. This was yet another new learning experience for me. But God has continued to lead me step by step through this exciting journey. It is one that I travel at my own pace—a rather slow and at times tumultuous one because of my chronic illness and daily pain.

It amazes me because I did not realize where God was leading me and I still don’t. Even though chronic illness and daily pain keeps me from being what I consider a “normal person” on the work force, I still know that God has a special plan for me—and I anxiously await the next step!

This sounds like a totally fascinating way to scrapbook your family memories! What do you think our readers from Rest Ministries can gain from learning about faith-booking?

I pray that others—especially those like me who are in a different season of their life now because of chronic illness and chronic pain—will be inspired to create their Spiritual Legacy. I pray that their Faithbook will touch the hearts of their loved ones and others who will follow them and that ultimately their scrapbooks about their Christian faith will make a difference on earth and in eternity.

Thank you. And how can our readers get the faithbook lessons?

I would like to invite the readers of Rest Ministries to visit http://www.ScrapbookYourChristianFaith.com and sign up for the “Free Five Faithbook Lessons”. In addition they will receive approximately once a month Faithbook Bits and Pieces which will cover tips, techniques and various related topics on Faithbooking. This is also free. My book is scheduled to also be published in print book form by early fall.

You had mentioned to me you would love to hear from our readers at RestMinistries.com. How can they reach you?

When they contact me, please ask them to identify themselves from Rest Ministries and let me know that they also have chronic illness/pain. I would love to pray for them. They can write to me at donna@ScrapbookYourChristianFaith.com.

I also would appreciate their prayers as I continue to learn and expand this ministry—that it will always be one that honors Our Lord.

Thank you so much for sharing with us Ms. Weber! Your book and web-site sounds exciting and I personally look forward to learning more about Faithbooking my Christian life through your great resources.

You can follow Donna on Twitter @FaithScrapper . Did you catch her article last week here at Rest Ministries You Are God’s Messenger Today For Someone Who is Hurting?

Debbi Farmer, a part-time writer in North Carolina, loves art and finding great resources. She shares her life with her family more creatively now thanks to the Lord’s wonderful and sufficient grace. She suffers from several illnesses including Fibromyalgia. She wishes she could give you all a cheerful hug today and share with you a tiny morsel of hope.

Postcard image Copyright Donna Riner Weber

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 travel, I have chronic pain which gets worse as we travel.

A couple of years ago, Brian and I were on a trip to New Orleans to visit family. My pain was just about unbearable. I took my medicine. We prayed. I cried. We prayed. And I cried some more. I could take the travel no longer. We stopped.

I went into a ladies room. A postcard caught my attention. It had 4 adorable, little fluffy, fuzzy white puppies. You got it—the same postcard of the puppies that fell out of my purse.

Ever since that day, I’ve had that postcard in my purse.

“Why?” You wonder.

Because as I turned the post card over, someone had written 4 words—only 4 words— “Jesus Knows Your Pain.”

As I took the card, I cried–but this time for a different reason. I knew God had directed someone to leave this card with this message for me.

I needed to be reminded that God knew what I was going through right at that moment. God knew exactly where we would stop and which restroom I would go into. He sent His messenger with the perfect message especially for me. How awesome!

What about us and the messages we leave in our Faithbooks? God already knows who will be reading them.

I would like to challenge you to fulfill the scripture that says “Make the most of every opportunity.” Colossians 4:5.

Whether it‘s a 4-word message, a scripture, or a story, God knows the message and He will give it to you. Who knows it may be for a person who will read it tomorrow or for someone who will read it years from now.

But the right person at the right time will get the message God wants them to have.

Why? Because you are God’s messenger today!

Donna Riner Weber is the founder of Scrapbook Your Christian Faith and she lives with a chronic condition. Next Tuesday we will be featuring an interview with her! You can visit her web site to get “Five Faithbook Lessons,” as well as the newsletter “Faithbooking Bits and Pieces” with tips and techniques about Scrapbooking Your Christian Faith.

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 God may just use it. In my opinion, this book would most benefit those who have gone through the grief cycle of a period of suffering, who are now looking for how to use this pain and experience for God’s glory.

For example, if you were diagnosed with a chronic illness last week, this book likely will not meet your needs–yet! But when you have gone through the times of grief, anger, bargaining with God, etc. and are to the point where you want to step out of that grief cycle and into a place where God can use your pain, this is one of the best books I have ever seen to lead you on the next steps.

• In the chapter, “Trusting in Others: God Given Guidance” it explains the need for women to have mentors and some possibilities for you to become a mentor for women in your neighborhood, church, or as a volunteer at an organization.
• “Praying For Others With Serious Problems” explains how to pray for those who are suffering a great deal. This topic is one that Christian leaders are somehow just expected to know how to do, but are rarely taught.
• “Your God-Given Passion: God’s Motivation” reminds us how look for the “hurt points” we have had in our life and to recognize how they may be the most important ways that God can use us, as we can relate with the hurts others are going through.

If you are tired of just reacting to the pains in your life, and you are ready to pro-actively respond to them instead–in ways that will bring God glory and help you discover His will for your life–this book is for you! Edna wraps her arms around you, cautious to tread lightly on your hurts that still may be a bit raw, but she also encourages you and helps the reader see the potential God has for all the sufferings in her life.

The fact that this is a workbook, and not just a book to read, makes it a tool to not just encourage you to follow the plans God has for your life, but a way to actually be able to discover them, focus them, and then start reaching for them.

This book is 224 pages, and is larger than your average book at 8.9 x 7.5 inches.

Edna Ellison, who holds a Ph.D., speaks to women all over the world. According to her Amazon profile, she loves collecting Christian jokes and leading women in her church in the Beautiful Hat Society, a group of Christian women who meet monthly for encouragement, laughter, and a time of sharing their mentoring adventures.

Get it today at the Rest Ministries Shop! Our bookstore is how we find the funds to keep us going so your purchases help us keep the computers running!

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” -Proverbs 12:18

Yesterday I had a great conversation with a health and fitness coach with whom I recently started working. Not only did she give me some great ideas to work toward my personal goals, but I also found myself leaving the conversation with a lot more hope than I’ve felt in a long time. It’s interesting I should be so hopeful because I’m really having a tough time physically right now. And we also spent a fair amount of time discussing my past history of chronic illness, a topic that usually drains me and makes me sad.

Instead, she was able to focus on the accomplishments I’ve made in the past two years toward a healthier me.

I later realized my coach did a simple yet powerful thing: she used her words to bring healing–healing to my spirit and even to my body. After we spoke I was more inspired to remain on the path of a healthy lifestyle, and I was so energized by hope that I went ahead and started my new exercise program that I’ve been putting off for months because I didn’t feel well enough to try. Which, in turn, inspired me to eat healthy and work out again today. And maybe I’m imagining things, but my current flaring health symptoms seem to be better too.

Recently I’ve had a lot of reckless words spoken into my life and my health situation. Well-meaning family members, friends, and doctors have said things that to some degree, robbed me of hope, faith, and joy. It’s been a fierce battle in my heart to fight off the constant barrage of negativity their words created. What a contrast with my experience yesterday!

This is a great lesson for all of us. Before we share that “helpful” idea or something “the Lord laid on our heart” that our loved one “needs” to hear, let’s ask ourselves if we are planting seeds of hope and healing or if we are truly piercing them with the sword of our reckless words.

“Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3)

About the Author: Deanna Nichols is a woman of faith searching for purpose in the midst of a lifetime of physical illness and pain. She has been diagnosed with narcolepsy with cataplexy, polycystic ovarian disease, Hashimoto’s thyroid disease, and many others. Her chronic illnesses make it impossible for her to work or even drive, so she is mostly home-bound. She is on the Board of Directors for her family’s commercial lawn maintenance business, is an avid reader and book reviewer, and uses social networking to encourage people with chronic illness, educate those without illness, as well as to share what she’s learned regarding natural health. She lives in Northeast Florida with her husband of 12 years and their 5 furry children. Read Deanna’s blog A Fragile Faith.

I can’t seem to find my voice. I usually have so much to say, thoughts that must get down on paper. But I cannot think in complete sentences. Nothing seems worth saying.

A ten-day trip rejuvenated me. . . and exhausted me. I want to cocoon into my own world for a few days.

Oddly, I can. My son is at day camp. I have nothing I must do. My husband works late. No need for dinners.

Mac and cheese. Peanut butter. Popcorn.

I know. Not the best meals. But sometimes every mother just says, “Why not? What harm will it do to have popcorn for dinner?”

My email program is broken. I am running a “restore feature.” It’s been running two days. I can’t go through the normal routine of “back to work.”

It’s seems foreign to not have multiple responsibilities. With my life comes a to-do list. Days are usually about getting through, not pondering my plans. I have come to expect chaos, and it feels normal.

I wander around, I watch the news, I see what friends are doing on Facebook. It all seems pointless. I hardly looked at news or social networks for 10 days and it made. . . no. . . difference.

I feel cleansed somehow. Unable to get back into the motion of doing.

What was it like to just be?

God tells us He will “refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.” (Jeremiah 31:25). I am open to the refreshment but I have forgotten how to ask.

I curl up with my Bible. What is God’s plan for my time this week? I read. I search. I pray.

Usually I am overwhelmed with God’s voice. Instead I just hear, “Rest. . . Just rest. It’s okay. Don’t make the idea of resting one more thing to do.”

Laundry needs folding. Unpacking needs completed. I don’t care.

My body needs to rest. My soul needs to rest.

It will wait.

I can wait.

I am learning to be satisfied without the chaos.

Calmness is not just a lack of chaos. It is peace in finding the quietness.

Lisa Copen is the founder of Rest Ministries and she lives in San Diego with her husband and son. She is gradually learning how to balance motherhood, family, illness, and ministry, but she still knows it will be a lifetime lesson. You can see the books she has written, including, Why Can’t I Make People Understand? at the Rest Ministries shop.

Last fall a popular health activist organization had a video contest asking us to share our journey about being a health advocate. I didn’t win, but taking the time to share about my story of how I went from a stirring for illness ministry to where Rest Ministries is today was a winning experience!

Here I share about how I originally thought I would work for a non profit organization, but after my diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 24, I began my own “health promotion activities,” by starting Rest Ministries and in 2002, Invisible Illness Awareness Week. Through both of these experiences of finding my health mission, I have had the honor of working with many activist websites and organizations and the joy of working with you!

Lisa Copen

I spent yesterday at the hospital bedside of a very close friend who had a stroke that left him completely blind. We spent hours reminiscing about our many years together, and I learned a lesson which I am passing on to you.

My friend had just celebrated his 85th birthday. He was in the D-day invasion in World War II, wounded and later taken prisoner by the Germans. He has a wonderful wife and family.

As he lay there, staring sightlessly at the ceiling, he said, “So many things I’d planned that I’ll never get done.” Tears flowed as he talked (I had a few also but he couldn’t see them).

“I can never see my children and grandchildren and all the things they are doing. I can’t watch them become adults.”
“I have a million things I wanted to do and can’t do them now.”
“I won’t be able to work in my yard, plant seeds and watch things grow.”
“Sure, I can hear the birds but I can’t watch them at the bird feeder.”
“I have shelves of books I planned on reading. . .”
“No more golf,” he said, and the tears kept flowing.

“Most of all,” he continued, “I haven’t shown the ones I love as much as I should. And now I can’t see the expressions on their faces when I do. Will they still love me? Or will I be a burden on them? And what will happen to my friends I’ve known over the years? Will they stay away and be embarrassed in my presence?”

I had to remind him I was there and others would feel as I do and continue their friendship.

“Most of all, I can’t do things like repairs around the house, drive a car, meet friends for lunch, watch TV, read newspapers, walk in the neighborhood, even feed myself without help.”

Then he began sobbing and as I reached for his hand, I choked back my tears. Speaking softly but firmly, I said, “You have survived and have no paralysis. Your family and friends still love you and always will. Let’s talk about the good things that can keep you going.”

I reminded him, “Several places are available that work with the blind. I know a blind man who is a successful attorney. He was coached on how to use his special phone, as well as other daily activities he handles with little or no problems.”

Still holding his hand, I said, “You know your wife loves you. So do your children and grand-kids. They’ve shown that love already. They are anxious to help build your future and will work with you in making your life a thousand times better than you expect it to be.

“Now here’s advice from me, your long time friend. Work with your family. Thank them for every goal they helped you achieve. But most important–and I can’t emphasize it enough–take that recording equipment I know you have. Turn it on and start with your birth and tell about yourself. Talk into the microphone about all you remember as a little kid, your first school days, your childhood adventures, all of your later schooling.

After telling your college experiences, talk about your courtship with your wife, when your children were born, your first job and subsequent career until retirement. I know you’ve been successful; tell how you achieved that success. Pull out memories – good and bad – from your past. Share them all. Talk about your war ordeals and the years you spent as a prisoner of war. You have so many great memories to share.”

He seemed to brighten up at my suggestions and said, “That’s a good idea. I’ll do it.”

He is going home today from the hospital. One daughter and husband are moving into their large home with him and his wife. I am convinced he will have the best of care.

Why am I giving this story to you, my readers? My point is this: You, too, should get a tape recorder and dictate your life story. Or if you feel capable, write it; however, most of us can talk about our past rather than dictating it. Relive and cherish those memories.

I had a brother, now deceased, who joined the Marines in the mid-30′s. He was on Corregidor which the Japanese finally captured after six weeks. He survived the hell of the Death March plus 44 months as a POW. During his final years we convinced him to tell his experiences on his son’s recorder. We listen to his story and laugh and cry. All of us are thankful for those recorded unforgettable memories.

Let’s profit from my friend and my brother. My strong request is for you to record in some way your life experiences before it’s too late! It’s something both you and your loved ones will never regret.

We challenge you to do this this summer! You may look around you and see only the things which you are unable to do. But you have many of God’s teachings and revelations inside you from the suffering you have endured.

So record it. Tell it. Share it. Share about your life. Your favorite memories, of even the not-so-favorite ones that were still instrumental in creating the mosaic you are you today. Ideas? Suggestions? We’d love to hear them.

Denton Harris was in World War Two in the 86th Infantry Division. He attended college in Missouri and relocated to Atlanta, where he married a wonderful lady married in l948 (and is still married!). He has done investments, founded several businesses, including a bank where he was chairman. Currently, Denton us doing personal investments and writing. He has been the director of the largest Sunday School department in his church for over 35 years.

In coming months I will be sharing more of your testimonies about your involvement in small groups, the Sunroom, on Facebook, daily devotionals–wherever Rest Ministries has touched your life. Print, audio, or videos are all welcome if you’re interested in sharing. Lisa

From a woman we will call Samantha, who has been a part of a HopeKeepers in Southern California that has met for over 10 years.

I was a young Christian woman, just starting my career, newly in love, and full of hopes for the future.

Then, one day, chronic pain entered my life and set up a long-term stay. Now, over 20 years later, I live in constant severe pain.

Do I have many moments of questioning, tears and frustration? If I said I didn’t, I’d be giving false testimony, and worse, making it harder for someone who is reading this to believe that there is such a thing as solid hope even when one is living through intense suffering.

No, I haven’t found an answer, medically, for my chronic pain, but I found these things, which are so valuable. . . a God who suffers alongside me and does not turn His back on me, a group called–of all things–HopeKeepers (R).

The group has co-suffering servant-hearted leaders who are incredibly accepting and inspire me to spiritual maturity, brave fellow seekers and believers who listen and care and pray and allow me–in my brokenness–to listen to, care, and pray for them in return.

I am now still a young Christian woman, still growing in love with the same devoted man, striving to understand the riches of God’s Word, still leaning hard into my Savior.

What have I learned through HopeKeepers? Simple–No one gets through life without pain. The blessed ones are not those who live without heartache, obstacles and pain, but the ones who, in pain, in struggle, have love, hope and support in their very soul because of the giver of hope.

I invite others with whom I cross paths who are suffering to join us in community as we endeavor to keep our hope, right where it needs to be–in Christ.

Are you interested in starting a HopeKeepers group?

HopeKeepers is the small group program of Rest Ministries that meets in churches and communities around the world. Rest Ministries provides help in starting your group, materials and resources, tools such as training DVD to help increase awareness of (mostly invisible) illness in your church, and opportunities for networking with other leaders.

To find out more visit the “Start a Group” section of our web site.

Related articles

• When Our Church Disappoints Us, Where Do We Put Those Emotions (chronicillnesspaindevotionals.wordpress.com)
• The Journey of Life Is Not Meant to Be Done Alone (chronicillnesspaindevotionals.wordpress.com)

By Bridget Gazlay

According to Gallup’s daily poll of 1500 Americans, 54% felt our economic outlook is getting worse (February 2, 2011). There is no doubt about it; these days are hard. And being that I am a young single person it’s even tougher – especially since I am also chronically ill.

My life has many ups and many downs, but my life is never dull, that’s for sure. I am also an Administrative Assistant, author, fabric artist, and aunt! In spite of challenging times, my life is so blessed. My hope is to share my heart and blessings with you over the coming months.

My biggest goal is that from my adventures, you would be encouraged to follow your dreams no matter what obstacles come your way. These first few columns will give you an introduction of who I am and how I got to be a 35 year-old author and artist.

I am able to work full-time and in light of Michigan’s job market, I feel so lucky to have a great job. There was a point in my life when I thought I would not be able to provide for myself. At the age of 19, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, a chronic illness affecting the nerves and muscles. More is coming out about that these days, but some symptoms include intense muscle pain, chronic fatigue, and headaches.

At that point, I was having trouble getting my college work completed, and having been an A-student, I found this very trying. With lots of prayer and family support, I did graduate from college with honors. To me, that was miracle number one!

Today, I still battle chronic fatigue and pain, but I now also endure Irritable Bowel Syndrome (stomach issues), kidney stones, Endometriosis (have had three surgeries), nerve damage in my left arm and leg, and now arthritis in my hands and feet. There are days when I feel so much older than I am. But it’s during these times I often see God work the most in my life. One of my favorite life passages in the Bible is from Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV) which says:

“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

I never thought I would be able to work full-time, let alone be an author or artist, but here I am today and I am so amazed! I would not trade my life for anyone else’s as I have learned so much and gained so much – some of which you will hear about in this column.

May you leave with Hope for Today!

Bridget Gazlay resides in the beautiful West Michigan. She struggles with Fibromyalgia, Endometriosis, IBS, arthritis and migraines. She works full time but writes and designs fabric cards as she is able. Bridget’s prayer is for readers who come across her writing or fabric cards to see that she allows, “God’s creation to be my inspiration.” You can reach Bridget at: quiltforhim@yahoo.com or www.pfccreations.com. Make sure to check out her new blog: www.pfccreations.com/blog.

I remember sitting at my first MOPS meeting for Mother’s with Preschoolers. After years of waiting to have a child, my husband and I had been blessed with a newborn through adoption. The irony is, all of the moms at the table had new babies. We needed support way before our children reached preschool age! Our of about 10 of us however, I found is disheartening to hear all but myself and another mom say, “Don’t you just hate being a parent some days?”

Gasp! And these were Christian women. “All I feel like is the maid and the cook” they shared. Looking back, now I realize that I was still in some of the “bliss” of motherhood.” Yet, ironically, the only two of us who were content at the moment were both working at home–in the middle of the night–doing ministry work. I was doing Rest Ministries stuff and the other woman worked as a freelancer for a local Christian magazine. In fact, we had met a year earlier when she had called to interview me about Rest Ministries.

Yes, I was EX-HAUST-ED… So tired, it took 3 syllables just to get that word out. Yes, I felt overwhelmed. I was enjoying motherhood, but also trying to balance it with my chronic illness and sleepless nights and lifting the car seat, and putting together the stroller.

What was the difference? Perhaps it was that my brain still got at least the chance to do something –even if it was at 2 AM. Or perhaps I didn’t ever get to those blues of “is-this-all-there-is-and-will-ever-be?” because I still had Rest Ministries to turn to, to still find myself. I was still me here at this web site, even when covered in baby spit up. I still had you. I had a purpose beyond folding up 27 onesies. Even though I loved those little onesies. . . I wanted more. Was that so bad?

I have not yet read this book (below), but am eager to do so, because I believe that yes, our children and family should be our number one ministry. But after that, we should still continue to reach outside of our home and look for the needs and how we can meet them. There is no greater gift we can give our child than taking them with us as we drop off a plant to a friend recovering from surgery; have them bake cookies for the new family on our street, or like my son, help me seal up envelopes and drop them in the mail box for people of Rest Ministries. We will soon be exhibiting at the Joni and Friends Disability Summit and my son is eager to run around the exhibit room and pass out buttons and pens like he has in the past and ask children in the wheelchairs to tell him about the batteries that operate their chairs and how long the lights will stay turned on on those special chairs.

Don’t for a moment think that “ministry” needs to have any 501 or c3 or initials behind it. Ministry is reaching out–even to just one other person–and sharing the love of the Lord with them. I saw my grandmother do it, inviting people to her porch for a slice of pie and a prayer and a squeeze of a hand. Now, my mother is doing it. Some days, she is the woman behind my exhibit table doing formal ministry, but most often she is visiting people in nursing homes, giving rides to doctors appointments, and mentoring younger girls– all between her own doctors appointments for diabetes. Don’t feel overwhelmed with “ministry”– just show up!

Lisa, Founder of Rest Ministries

A Different Kind of Mom: Making a Difference at Home and in the World for Christ

By: Helen Lee, author of The Missional Mom: Living with Purpose at Home & in the World (Moody Publishers, Jan. 2011). Reprinted with permission of Moody Publishers

Back in the warm summer days of July, New York magazine posted an article entitled, “All Joy and No Fun: Why Parents Hate Parenting,” an examination of the current emotional and mental state of today’s parents who were depicted as being harried, frustrated, and unfulfilled by the challenges of raising children. Not long afterwards, two Christian mommy-bloggers posted the article on The Mommy Revolution, resulting in scores of other Christian mothers chiming in with their own stories of frustration and weariness at the daily burdens of motherhood. “I just told my husband how unhappy I am,” one commenter wrote, “I’m empty, exhausted, and fried.”

Motherhood can absolutely be a draining role, one that by definition necessitates constant sacrifice, which is never an easy thing. And yet, I wonder if the reason that today’s Christian mothers have an unfulfilling parenting experience is because they have misunderstood the purpose of their lives, and how motherhood fits into that purpose to begin with.

When I first became a mother nearly a decade ago, as much as I loved my newborn baby boy, I also wrestled with a constant stream of internal questions: was motherhood supposed to be my highest or only calling? What was I supposed to do with other gifts and callings God had given me? Was I supposed to be wholeheartedly embracing motherhood as the cornerstone of my identity and the recipient of all my energies? Was asking these kinds of questions evidence that I was a bad Christian mother?

For the past year and a half, I’ve been pondering these questions. I’ve specifically wondered whether pursuing a missional lifestyle could be the key to helping mothers regain a sense of perspective and purpose in their lives. I spoke with about 40 different mothers whose lives reflect a missional perspective, who live with a strong sense of purpose and with the intentional desire to impact the world in whatever way God had calls them. These are women who clearly take their roles as mothers and wives seriously, but also keep those roles in the proper perspective, under God’s lordship and direction for their lives.

For example, take Tonya Herman. She is a mom of two kids who lives in Compton, California, someone who loves and ministers in her city despite its negative reputation. Tonya opened her home to two teenage boys from a local family so they can have a chance at academic progress and success.

Or Shayne Moore, a Wheaton College graduate and suburban mom of three who went to hear Bono speak one evening at her alma mater and was forever changed. A self-described ordinary “soccer mom,” Shayne would become a global advocate in the battle against HIV and AIDS through the ONE Campaign.

Or consider Arloa Sutter, a mom who raised two daughters in the city of Chicago, and responded to God’s call to reach the homeless and poverty-stricken men and women around her. She started by mobilizing her church to serve coffee to those in need, a ministry which became Breakthrough Urban Ministries and which now runs two shelters serving thousands of homeless people every year. If you meet women like this, you discover that while motherhood can indeed be exhausting, life as a mom can still be exciting and fulfilling as you pursue God’s calling and purpose in your life.

North Park University professor and popular blogger Scot McKnight says, “Women have done the bulk of the ministry in the West for a long, long time. Mothers are typically the most missional people in the church.”

The more I began to interact with missional moms, the more I discovered that motherhood is not a phase in one’s life that you have to just tolerate and survive. A missional mom is no less tired at the end of the day than other moms. But she goes to sleep knowing she has pursued God’s mission for her life and made an impact in the world. And that is what makes all the difference.

Helen Lee is an award-winning freelance writer and editor with nearly two decades of experience publishing in the Christian market. She is the co-editor of and contributor to Growing Healthy Asian-American Churches (IVP, 2006) and co-founder of the Best Christian Workplaces Institute, which runs the annual “Best Christian Places to Work” survey. Helen has written numerous articles for publications such as Christianity Today, Today’s Christian Woman, re:generation quarterly and Leadership Journal (LJ). In both 2008 and 2009, her articles for LJ earned Higher Goals awards in reporting from the Evangelical Press Association. She is married to classical pianist and Moody Bible Institute professor Brian Lee; together they have three young sons. Helen is also a homeschooling mom and seeks to provide her sons with a classical Christian education; she and her family reside in Chicagoland. This article is reprinted with permission of Helen. Visit her web site at http://www.edstetzer.com/2010/12/thursday-is-for-thinkers-helen.html

By Debra Kay Micetich

Coping with my Pain

The pain most times I am able to bare;
Yet there are times, I fail to share.
I try to be strong, til it goes away;
In tears with faith, I kneel to pray.
As I set my mind on the Lord above,
My heart is filled with so much love.
Knowing He is always caring for me,
Safe with Him I know I’ll always be.
As my thoughts turn from pain to Him,
I forget the pain I once felt within.
Thank you, Lord, for helping me once more,
On the wings of your love, I freely soar.

By Debra Kay Micetich, 12/05/2010. Debra has suffered with chronic pain and clinical depression due to scoliosis.

She shared the following with us here at Rest Ministries:

I have been receiving your e-mails for some time. I have been blessed in many ways despite the pain I suffer on daily basis. God truly has given me a gift that I love and that is reading and sometimes even writing. I have never had anything published, it’s just something I use to reach out to those I want to encourage or care about so I thought I would share a few of the many, many poems I have written as I feel this may be a calling from the Lord.

I am woman who has grown living a life full of adversity and I wouldn’t trade any of it for the woman it has made me today. A woman who can pass on the love and lessons I have learned to others seeking their self-worth and security in themselves because you see, I can see them through the eyes of a loving Savior, so thank you God for making me who I am. I am submitting one as a sample, I have never been published, I just want to share out of love for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as I identify with so many of the people I have read about through your devotionals.

Related articles

• God Can Sing Over You When You Are In Pain (chronicillnesspaindevotionals.wordpress.com)
• God Says, “I Have Loved You With An Everlasting Love” Despite Your Pain (chronicillnesspaindevotionals.wordpress.com)

I have learned to be content despite my circumstances. I've also learned it is easier to be content beside a palm tree than many places.

Duncan Cross of the Patients For a Moment Blog Carnival recently asked us to answer this question “What have you learned about yourself, your illness, & other sick people?”

Well… this could be not only an entire book, but a volume of books. So where does one start?

Rather than going deeper with this question I’m going to simply answer it off the top of my head & will see what I come up with.

• I have learned that people often ask “Is it hereditary?” not out of ignorance but because there is some part of them that wishes to rule out the possibility that they could get the illness themselves.
• I have learned that people who are ill are just like everyone else. We still have dreams, we still have moments when we are grumpy, & we still desire not necessarily the “Disneyl&s” in life –but the ability to enjoy the simple moments that “normal people” seem to have.
• I have learned that people will disappoint us, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t care. We need to offer grace & forgiveness & turn to God for our deepest emotional needs.
• I have learned that it is not fair to the people around me that I will probably always be “worse off” than them. For example, if my husb& has the flu, I likely have it too & I also have a chronic illness. If he is not sleeping, I am also not sleeping & my rheumatoid arthritis is likely flaring as well. It really is not fair, but it is what it is. I must make sure I don’t use this to always “one up” everyone.
• I have learned that prednisone is an evil friend.
• I have learned that the quickest way to draw attention to yourself is to park in h&icapped parking place legally, but then to get out a stroller & your baby instead of a wheelchair.
• I have learned that there are seasons in both our physical ailments & our emotional experiences in a chronic illness. Sometimes they match & sometimes they do not. Our health can have a great deal of impact on our emotional well-being, & other times we can feel God’s peace despite the absolute worst of circumstances.
• I have learned that one of the greatest gifts one can give one’s self while living with chronic illness is the ability to laugh & smile when her friends laugh with her.
• I have learned that one goes through the grief cycle over & over when living with a chronic illness. Just when one learns how to cope with losses or disabilities, new griefs occur & the cycle must be gone through again.
  I have learned that to ask for help is one of the hardest things to do; but to ask for help & then not receive it, is one of the most challenging times when we must learn to offer unconditional grace & not hold resentments.

• I have learned that it is always wise to drop a few pills “accidentally” in your pill drawer so that when you run out on Friday night you can always dig up a couple if your prescription does not have refills.
• I have learned that to live with chronic illness must certainly be easier at times then to have a spouse who lives with a chronic illness. I have great admiration & love for my husb& who must see me suffer & be unable to control it.
• I have learned that children can be kind & curious when you are using a wheelchair; it’s their parents you have to worry about. I almost caused a riot trying to get on a Disneyl& shuttle because the driver told me to get on first.
• I have learned that only I know exactly how many “spoons” (energy) I have at any given moment & when people say I am doing too much & should cut back it is often because I am not fulfilling the needs that they have.
• I have learned to accept my limitations & allow myself the tools, such as Kindle & Touchscreen computer, in order to continue to follow my dreams.
  I have learned that regardless of the plans I may make, God is always in control & that it is up to me to accept the fact that I will do & accomplish only that which He desires– & everything else can fall by the wayside & I need to emotionally let go of it.

• I have learned the most powerful was to be refreshed is to refresh or encourage someone else.
• I have learned that a $5 powder bronzer on your face can go a long way toward helping you look sun-kissed & not sick.
• I have learned that you can live in a state of feeling that God is good & God is in control & also being frustrated with how this life is turning out & longing for heaven.
• I have learned that allowing your child to watch television or play video games for a little while while you rest on the couch will not cause lightening to strike or children services to show up at your doorstep.
• I have learned that by having a visible disability (such as when I had my outrigger split during joint replacement recovery on my h&) can be an amazing opportunity to hear the stories of other people who are suffering, because they come up to you, a total stranger, & talk to you about their pain, because they believe you underst&.
• I have learned to walk out of public restrooms without washing my h&s & not worry about what people think, because I am going to use h& sanitizer outside.
• I have learned that computer voice programs have a mind of their own & that when I say something like “I will keep you in prayer” my computer sometimes types “Let’s go have a beer.” I’ve tried to learn to edit & proof, but I still miss too much!
• I have learned that life is hard, but God is good. I re-learn this every day.

What have you learned?