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.

Want to join Pinterest, but need an invitation? Just drop us a note here and we will send you one!

My son, 9, doesn’t like compliments. He says, “yeah, yeah, whatever,” and yet he still needs to know I do notice them. Lately, his attitude and actions have left my husband and I throwing up our arms in desperation wondering what to try next to get through to this growing strong-willed blessing.

Here is one thing I am trying: positive reinforcement! I bought a little 4×6 frame at the thrift store and painted it aqua blue to match our coastal cottage bathroom. Then I found a clipart-style beach background and some sunglasses clipart that I added to the right bottom corner.

I put the words, “YOU ARE A COOL KID” on it in a fun font at the top and printed it out and framed it with the glass.

Did know dry erase markers write easily on glass and wipe off with a tissue? How did I not know that? you can buy them at Walmart, an office supply store, etc for a few dollars.

So each night after my son goes to bed I think of something he did that day that was awesome. Was he extra patient with a friend who needed it? Did he help me with a task that was difficult for me? Did he show good character in a choice he made?

Some days I can think of a few great things he did but I need to just narrow it down to one, remembering boys need fewer words!

And be honest . . . Some days I have to think a few minutes for just one thing (Every mom has days like that, right?)

The irony is I did this for him but it is helping me! Because, when he fights his way from the tub to the bed to go to sleep and I am utterly wiped out physically and emotionally, it forces me to think of all the great things he did do that day. . . And how much I love him. And that he is a good kid, with a good heart, he is just asserting his independence in a lot of ways!

I originally saw this idea on Pinterest.com but the frames said, “I LOVE YOU BECAUSE…” I love my son unconditionally and to say “I love you because… You took out the garbage” or “you helped me bring in the groceries” seems a bit silly. I love him, not for what he does, but because he is my son.

So. . . Think of the possibilities! Get your own little frame and write a new scripture on it each week. Write a note from God –to you–on it, to sit on your nightstand and see first thing when you wake up. Or make up and 8.5 x 11″ frame and put it on a wall you can easily reach and write quotes or scriptures that encourage you, changing them when you need something new to reflect on! And here is your chance to be bold. Get a thrift store frame and paint it bright red, or pale pink, or whatever color you love but are afraid to use in your decorating.

Below is the print I made for my son’s frame. You are welcome to download it and print it out if you want. I have made 2: one for a child, and one with just the beach background.

Beach with “cool kid” words
Beach only

PS: On pinterest? You can follow me at http://pinterest.com/lisacopen or our Rest Ministries pinterest account–which is quite cool I must say.

Lisa

We have a “drug drawer” in the kitchen with a lock. But as the rest of the family has added vitamins and medication over the years, my medications have suddenly become mixed in with everyone elses. So every time I spent 5 minutes going through 15 bottles looking for a particular one I think, “There has got to be a better way!”

And. . . There is! Check this out!

Can you guess what it is? It is a bead organizer from the crafty Michael’s store. Regularly $17.99, it was on clearance for just $10. And as I looked at, my mind started spinning. It looked like a huge pill box!

So, just to be clear, it is not my daily pill box, as it would be a pain (the irony!) to open up every container for 1 pill each day, but this new box is where I dump whatever is left over when I am done with my two weeks which are separated out.

Here is what my 2 weeks of pills look like.

But now this is where I have everything else from Vicodin to Vitamin D.

Now when I am getting low I can visually see that it is time to call in a refill soon.

I also have all of my labels on the back that include dosage information, milligrams, etc.

Here a little video about it if you are a more audio learner!

What clever solutions have you come up with to organize your medication?

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.

She is currently writing a book for Christian moms who live with chronic illness. If you are interested in sharing your stories, feedback and confessions for the book, visit her Facebook page at http://MomWithIllness.com .

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.

I recently happened upon a delightful surprise. While planning for a family vacation, I learned of an interesting tourist attraction: The Museum of disABILITY History in Buffalo, New York.

“The museum is the result of the desire of Dr. James M. Boles,” said 51-year-old Doug Platt, museum curator, in a telephone interview. “Boles was teaching an introduction to developmental disabilities course at University of Buffalo and wanted to direct his students to a website for a comprehensive look at how people with disabilities have been treated throughout the ages. There wasn’t one. That’s how the museum was born, in 1998.”

Boles also was president/CEO of People Inc., a New York nonprofit providing employment, residential, recreation, community outreach, and healthcare programs for people with disabilities. The Museum of disABILITY became a People Inc. project.

Said Platt, “I’m museum curator and my job is the safekeeping, arrangement, and description of artifacts I have helped collect. We used items we collected to create displays and exhibits that resulted in the way our gallery and website appear now.”

The museum has a website and a brick-and-mortar location in Buffalo. Visitors to the latter include elementary and high school groups, college social work and physical therapy students, and University of Buffalo medical students learning about disability history.

“We want to give people an idea of the role people with disabilities have always played in history,” said Platt, also a 26-year People Inc. employee. The museum’s online version has “wings” dedicated to people with disabilities and events in media, medicine, society, education, and advocacy. One recent exhibit was called Eugenics in America: Perfecting the Population. In part, it explained the history of the 1927 Buck vs. Bell Supreme Court ruling allowing forced sterilization of “unfit” Americans well into the 1960s.

“We have an Invacar, too” said Platt, referring to the three-wheeled vehicle manufactured for disabled British veterans from 1948-77. The museum also features well-known Americans such as President Roosevelt, Temple Grandin, John Elder Robison, and Stevie Wonder.

Platt said, “The museum wants to include a wide range of disabilities. People with disabilities have been marginalized and part of our vision is to create a society accepting of people with disabilities. By our presenting to the public the role people with disabilities have played, perhaps that will better help society understand and accept them.”

Daniel J. Vance writes a weekly newspaper column called “Disabilities,” and should soon be graduating from Minnesota State with a master’s in mental health counseling and becoming a licensed professional counselor. His goal is to combine this new career with being a freelance writer. See his Daniel Vance website or his Facebook Page.

“LemonAid Crutches”(TM) is the first company to create lovely designer crutches in rich, vivid colors and gorgeous, expressive fabrics. Being on crutches can be a sad, depressing experience, but this store makes it a bit more enjoyable and a whole lot more cheerful.

On the LemonAid Crutches (TM) web site it shares, “No one wants to be on crutches. They hurt your hands, they hurt your arms and they certainly hurt your sense of style.

Many have tried to tackle the challenge of adding comfort to an uncomfortable item, but duct tape and washcloths look…well…tacky. That’s why we created designer crutch-wear that’s not only comfortable, but fun and fabulous looking.”

Founder Laurie Johnson’s personal testimony to this fact makes one realize that a little bit of encouragement can go a long way in the face of a major crisis. In August of 2002, Laurie was in a small plain crash that took the lives of her husband and small son. Laurie survived, but she found herself with broken legs and was confined to using crutches.

After the first year on crutches, Laurie and her sister decided that a little cheering-up was in order, and they began by painting Laurie’s crutches a bright color! By her second year on crutches, Laurie had mastered her technique of covering the crutches’ pads with vivid colored materials and thus the beginning of “LemonAid Crutches (TM)” was born.

One cannot imagine the devastation another one goes through when losing family members in tragic circumstances. Laurie says that she had much support to help her pick up the pieces of her life even when her life was absolutely shattered beyond repair!

Though living in devastation, Laurie started a “non-profit” foundation called “Step with Hope.” This foundation offers assistance to others who are coping with profound loss in their lives.

What a wonderful place to go to discover that something as “sad” as being on crutches for a prolong period of time can actually be turned into a fashion-statement. Why not check this place out if you know someone on crutches?

A little encouragement and cheering up can go a long way in helping someone recover from pain. And . . . if you personally are one of those who have to endure crutches for awhile, perhaps this is the web-site for you. You might find your ideal look and sense of style, making your crutches fashionable and not nearly as depressing while supporting a fantastic cause in the process.

Have you ever decorated, embellished, or painted an assistive device? Tell us about it in the comments section! How does it make you feel? What is the response of others who see it?

Debbi Farmer is a part-time writer and small business owner who loves to find wonderful sites that encourage the broken-heart. She shares, “My heart goes out to those who are suffering from profound loss such as Laurie went through. I cannot even imagine that kind of pain, but I realize even through the familiar pain of illness, the Lord is so good and I have so much to Thank Him for!”

Click image to see more of Bridget's cards

By Bridget Gazlay

You would think being chronically ill, a full-time administrative assistant, and a devotional writer would be enough to keep my time occupied. I also have the great joy of being a fabric artist. Now that title alone doesn’t really tell you what I do. I don’t design fabric or make clothing. I draw a design and then I make it in fabric, creating my own fabric art scene. I then scan my fabric original to produce my own prints, bookmarks, and note cards. That way I can spend as long as I need to on each design – which could be anywhere from 4 to 20 hours – and not have to make hundreds of them.

I started making fabric pictures in 2000 when I was a missionary. I was a quilter at the time and wondered if I could figure out a way to make note cards from all my leftover fabric scraps. After many trials and mess-ups, I perfected the process and came up with my own stationery.

Many people began asking me about the cards and if they could learn to make them too. I started teaching classes and that’s where my first craft book, Fabric Cards, came from. That book was published in 2005 and sold almost 5,000 copies. Unfortunately, the publisher is now out of business after twenty years so I have those rights back. I haven’t decided if I will publish another book or not, but I do continue to make art and teach classes as I am able.

You might be thinking this doesn’t seem so unusual or astounding. The interesting thing is I have never had an art class in my life and it is totally amazing to see how much art and drawing are a part of my life now even though I have never had any formal training.

This is miracle number two in my life. If you had asked me ten years ago if I thought I’d be an artist or an author, I would have said no way. Whenever I write or create something new I am always awestruck at the wonderfulness of it all. I am not alone on this journey though – whenever I teach classes or do public speaking, I have several family and friends that jump in to help me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their support.

If I can be an artist and author without any professional training, you can follow your dream too! When you dedicate your talents and skills to God, He can lead you on an exciting road! “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” (Proverbs 16:3)

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

When you live with a chronic illness your house can get so dreary. We are often there–at home–looking at the same old knick knacks day after day, watching those dust bunnies grow into adulthood (oh, I’m sorry, maybe that is just at my house!) Well, either way, summer is just around the corner & maybe you are looking around wondering how you could cheer the place up. Or maybe you have kids that are out of school & they are bored & need a project.

Here is a cool little tool we found! You can create a poster with the printer you have, even though your printer will only take regular sized 8 1/2 x 11 pieces of paper. Posterazor has a great video that shows how to download this free software & then how to upload your print.

I can see taking your kids’ artwork & blowing it up big & dedicating a part of the garage to be their gallery. I can imagine, rather than connecting each piece together side by side, making it a kind of artwork, framing each piece in an inexpensive matching frame & putting it one a wall. Or if there is a particular quotation you love, you could print out a very long poster to cover the wall space over a door frame.

What can you imagine?

Although you may think that volunteering will drain all your energy, you may find that it actually can ease physical pain. And sometimes, even if you are in more physical pain, you may discover that the mental and spiritual joy you gained still makes the physical pain worth it!

Volunteering has been found to:

• Enhance self-esteem through the “good feelings” derived from helping others and feeling worthwhile and needed.
• Distract one from one’s aches and pains, providing motivation for rehabilitation and activity, helping overcome social isolation, and providing a sense of community and belonging.
• Key benefits of volunteer work include: skill development, coping with isolation, the chance to “give back” to the community, to meet people, to enhance job prospects, personal growth, personal empowerment and to gain a new perspective on one’s own problems.

Research Summary: Graff, L. (1991). Volunteer for the Health of it Etobicoke, Ontario: Volunteer Ontario.

Here is an easy way to make your own or make up a bunch for special Christmas gifts. You can get cute bottles at your local craft or $.99 store (or Google “wholesale bottles”) & tie a pretty bow around it.

• Just pour some unscented mineral oil into your bottles & then mix in 1 tsp of your favorite essential oil scent.
• If you don’t have reeds, cut off the points of some bamboo skewers you use for BBQing & you are ready to go.

Now you can have lav&ar in the bedroom (for easy sleep) & peppermint in the kitchen (to wake you up!)