Founder's Blog Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

What If I Called Your Illness Just a Blip?

June 19, 2013 By admin 5 Comments

WHAT IF I TOLD YOU YOUR ILLNESS WAS JUST A BLIP ON YOUR ETERNAL LIFE? Would you get mad? Or would it give you perspective? This #devotional shares a powerful perspective on external life and our current sufferings.

Are the little stresses in your life wasting away your eternal perspective? Lisa shares a video that has helped her. "A blip? Do you have any idea what I deal with each day? How dare you!" In my mind I can already hear the frustration that I would belittle such a painful experience --perhaps a lifetime of painful experiences into a blip. But stay with me for a minute. Over a year ago a friend recommended the video below of Francis Chan speaking about how long our life is--our eternal life. And, in comparison, just how small, how insignificant time-wise our life here on earth really is. And many months later, I still recall this video and spiritual reminder when times get tough. Take a moment to watch now... (If you don't see a video, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coping Skills, Devotionals, Founder's Blog, Overwhelmed, Reflection, What's New?

Why Is It So Hard to Choose Joy?

June 14, 2013 By admin 5 Comments

How do you choose joy when the pain won't stop and life is getting more complicated? Lisa shares her thoughts. "I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. (Psalm 27:6b) My friend Pam Farrel has a motto: "Choose Joy!" Chuck Swindoll has said, "Joy is a choice. It is a matter of attitude that stems from one's confidence in God--that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen." But how can we choose joy when our world is falling apart? How can I be joyful when nothing is working out the way I had planned? When the pain of your illness won't relent for a few minutes? Most of you have heard that Rick and Kay Warren recently lost their son to suicide after a lifetime of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Devotionals, Founder's Blog, Grief, Joy, What's New?

Do You Have Fear of the World or Fear of the Lord?

February 20, 2013 By admin 5 Comments

HOW CAN FEAR OF THE LORD BE A GOOD THING? When you are chronically ill and all the fears of the world try to consume you, a healthy, respectful fear of the Lord can rescue you from the fears of the world. #devotional

Are you experiencing fear in your life? What is the difference between our fear and fear of the Lord? Lisa shares. "The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble." (Proverbs 19:23) Recent months have given me cause for fear. A couple of weeks ago, what I believed was a pinched nerve in my left side, went from painful to disabling in a few hours. It was a pain I distinctly remembered from a back injury in 2011. As I stood by the sink trying to make myself do dishes, and could not even bend enough to drop the silverware into the holder, the tears started to fall. I had to submit to the pain and call my husband to come home. And the fear that this was all starting over again made me start to panic. I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Fear, Founder's Blog, What's New?

Thank You For Your Prayers

January 28, 2013 By admin 4 Comments

Joshua (in the center in red and black) with friends in his bedroom doing "Beyblades"

Friends, Thank you so much for the prayers you lifted up on behalf of my family and my health this weekend. Thankfully, the birthday party went well. I learned to ask for help (like when I bent over to the cut the cake and got stuck!) I can't go into detail but let's say that it was a huge answered prayer that friends came and had fun and my son called it "the best birthday party ever!" I had a nice little moment with my son Saturday before everyone arrived. I gave him a cross necklace and a dog tag that has the "be strong and courageous" scripture from Joshua. I told him how much I loved him and so did God and He would always be there for him. He said, "Okay," and walked over to the sliding glass door. It was raining here in San … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Founder's Blog, What's New?

How Can You Change Dreams Into Plans When Ill?

December 10, 2012 By admin 12 Comments

Can you change your dreams into plans, even when illness keeps knocking you down? Lisa shares her thoughts. The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed and restore him from his bed of illness." (Psalm 41:3) There is a commercial out for a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) medication that asks, "Can your 'I want' become 'I can'?" It always annoys me just a bit because this particular medication sent me into the worst flare of my life a couple years ago. But as I watched the commerical the other day, I asked myself, Could my desires of 'I want' become 'I can'? I have a frame in my bedside that says, "She turned her can'ts into cans and her dreams into plans." For days, after I placed it there, everytime I walked by it, I unintentionally it read … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Founder's Blog, What's New?

Why Evernote Is My Favorite App To Keep My Health Organized

November 12, 2012 By admin 4 Comments

WEGO Health asks us to share a favorite health app today. Lisa Copen Evernote, found at Evernote.com is my favorite app for everyday use. It is an app you can download to your desktop computer, your mobile device, whatever and it all syncs in the cloud immediately. This means that I am able to access everything via my ipad that I have ever written. Or I can start working on paperwork for my doctor via my computer and then finish up in the waiting room at his office and email it to the receptionist to print out for him. It is a free app to download at Evernote.com or $5 per month if you need a lot more space. It has the ability to "read" (search and find) any word in a .jpg (photo) or pdf as well, but this requires the $5 fee. And … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Founder's Blog, What's New?

Get Creative with Some Craft Therapy!

November 11, 2012 By admin 9 Comments

Do you like to get creative? Despite our pain and illness, if you have a creative streak, find someway to feed it. WEGO Health asks what is your favorite thing to do that is not health-related but likely improves your life?" Day #11. I chose to talk about doing some crafts or simple decor. Craft therapy. This is what crafting is to me--a form of therapy. As a child my bedroom door was decorated every month (and yes, my parents would try to hide the scotch tape because I went through it too fast!) In college, I made ornaments, dried flower arrangements and other crafts to sell to make money for Christmas gifts. I cross-stitched my way through the summer I was a nanny in Scarsdale. How weird to go to New York and find "the thing" everyone … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Founder's Blog, Hobbies-Crafts, What's New?

How To Be Funny When You Would Rather Cry

November 10, 2012 By admin 6 Comments

HOW TO BE FUNNY (when you don't feel like it): This is an article by @Lisa Copen, founder of Rest Ministries, and she has rheumatoid arthritis. She shares about a day when she was feeling a bit down but was expected to write an article (for a writing challenge she was doing) about "being funny" when she really DID NOT feel funny! It is sort of like reading her journal as she writes about not being able to be funny--but she actually is funny in her explanation of it. #invisible illness

Have you ever felt moody like you just wanted to cry, but instead wondered how to be funny so you wouldn't depress those around you? Lisa Copen WEGO Health's writing prompt is to write about something funny. Hmmmm. . . Honestly? I am just dried up as far as humor for the moment, and I don't know how to be funny for today's post. In fact, the little bit of humor I had in the last few days I used up on my "descriptive story" post yesterday about how I ended up staying the night at the Bigfoot motel. But we're supposed to be choosing joy, right? (Didn't someone just write about choosing joy only a few days ago? Yes, I know. I hate when I can't tell an author how she hasn't walked in my shoes--because the author is me.) However, I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Depression, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New?

Why I Stayed The Night At The Bigfoot Motel

November 9, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

I had planned a fun family weekend on the way to my parents-- just us. But we didn't plan on staying at the Bigfoot Motel. WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “share a descriptive story" Day #9. I hope this makes you smile. Lisa Copen We are driving over the mountains toward the Redlands. "We are going to see trees bigger than 2 cars, as old as since Jesus lived on earth," I tell my son with enthusiasm. His head watches a screen in the backseat. I want him to see something God made--not man. He is bored. So I look up the area on my ipad and find something to get his attention. "There are more big foot sightings here than anywhere in the world," I say. "Really?" he perks up. "Do you think Bigfoot really … [Read more...]

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

How Much Should You Reveal About Your Loved Ones When You Write?

November 8, 2012 By admin 3 Comments

HOW MUCH SHOULD YOU REVEAL ABOUT FRIENDS OR FAMILY WHEN YOU BLOG? @Lisa Copen shares some of the things she tries to remember when telling a story online or in public that involves someone else. Can you be honest without hurting one's feelings? This article also has scriptures that back up her viewpoints and help explain what we are accountable. Great article for #writers. #NHBPM @wego health

How do you decide exactly what to reveal about your loved ones, friends or family, when you write about your own experiences online? WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “How do you choose to write about others in your blog?" Day #8. Lisa Copen I have asked this question, "How much should you reveal?" in past years to my writers groups. I have wondered, "How did you decide what to reveal, when, and why?" I read books of my writers friends where they share horror stories about a parent, a sibling, motherhood, and I think, "What did your mom think when she read that??" When we write, we often cling to our own experiences. And as writers, we do not just live--we are aware of the little slivers of life. We may think … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Founder's Blog, Friendships, Hurt Feelings, This is Me, What's New?

What Does A Patient’s Dream Medical Office Look Like?

November 7, 2012 By admin 9 Comments

Have you ever walked into a medical office and thought, if I see one more waterfall or People magazine I am going to scream? WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “if you could, how would you redesign a medical office?" Day #7. Lisa Copen The medical office. The exam room. The hospital. Oh, how we would like to get our decorator's ideas out at some of those places where we spend so much time. I asked some of you what your dream medical office would look like and some of your answers were the exact opposite of one another. For example, some of you liked the water fountains found in many offices, others of you said you hated those. Maybe you have heard too much water trickling right before painful procedures and its … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Doctor, Founder's Blog, Medical Professional, Organizing, This is Me, What's New?

How to Take the High Road (When Your Doctor Is Mean)

November 6, 2012 By admin 12 Comments

It can be hard to take the high road when it comes to physicians who feel they are in control of your treatment and what you are allowed (or not allowed) to do. WEGO Health asks for their daily writing challenge “write about a time you had to take the high road." Day #6. I was young, 27, and had only had rheumatoid arthritis for a few years. I was learning to navigate the world of medical care, insurance premiums, nursing politics, and doctors who (felt they) had power. According to the Urban Dictionary, to "take the high road" expression refers to "one being a 'class act' during a very difficult time. Those who take the high road, are demonstrating being honest, fair, and selfless while not being completely defenseless." I had … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Anger, Articles, Articles - Read, Founder's Blog, This is Me, What's New?