What an amazing group of people you are. Do you have any idea that right now, at this moment, God is using you for His glory? Okay, now I know that sounds kind of cliché, but I get to say that because I know for a fact He used many of you in my life in the last month.

Life is full of transitions. Some we choose. Some our hand is forced a bit. Some are completely our of our control.

If you watched my recent video from a couple of weeks ago, “Lisa. . . Unfiltered” you know that after a poor experience with a doctor I have loved for over 10 years, I felt my trust was misplaced and needs extended beyond her capabilities at this time. It’s a long story and I don’t want to get into details. You could perhaps write my story of coping with physicians and their selective memory yourself, because many of you have lived it.

It wasn’t some life-altering or life-threatening ordeal. But that day, the event was the “end of my rope” moment.

And I cried.

I am not a big crier. I think crying is a precious cleansing kind of release. And sometimes I avoid it because I am fearful that if I start, I will want to indulge ALL those emotions and it will go on for days. So I don’t let a single tear drop fall. I remember when I had the flesh eating bacteria in 2009. I had 8 days in the hospital, followed up with over 6 weeks of a PICC line with penicillin at home. One day my mom said something that hurt my feelings and I said, “DO NOT make me CRY! I have not cried ONCE through this entire ordeal, and if I start, we’re all going to drown in here!”

So, a few weeks ago I cried. I shared my emotions with you, uploaded the video, hit the button that says “publish,” and then thought “Oh my goodness, what have I done?” I told my mom “This will probably be the video that goes viral and I will be known as that weeping woman in ministry who can’t control her emotions.” Well, thankfully (I think) it hasn’t gone viral, but over 900 people have viewed it in many of you have sent encouraging comments.

Thank you.

As you may remember I mentioned at the beginning of the new year that I was looking to take Rest Ministries in your direction. There are not dramatic changes happening, but rather since I am the woman behind the computer screen and I was making changes and adjustments in my own life, my priorities, and seeking a deeper relationship with Christ, I was eager to see it overflow into the ministry as well.

I hope you know that I have such appreciation for the work that I am able to do. It makes me so humbled that you would allow me into your life many times on a daily basis through our daily devotionals. (Which we just started offering on the Kindle e-reader each day as a blog!) In some ways I feel like after living with a chronic disease for nearly 20 years I somewhat understand what I am doing. But that feeling rarely lasts more than a few minutes (smile).

I can receive e-mail from you sharing the immense difficulties you are going through and yet your incredible joy that is only possible through the Holy Spirit. Many of you have suffered the losses of loved ones even since the beginning of the year. Some of you have been diagnosed with cancer. Some of you have lost your job or your health insurance. And yet you continue to not only find hope in your own life, but also the time to drop by our Rest Ministries Sunroom and encourage someone else who is hurting.

You are going into your churches and talking with pastors about starting a HopeKeepers group. You are working with other HopeKeepers leaders to establish chapters in certain areas. You are referring friends to the website, forwarding devotionals, posting about us on Facebook, writing columns in your local newspaper that share about coping with illness and how Rest Ministries has helped you.

None of this has happened because I have asked you to, or because I have developed a program, or because I sent out a press release. This is happening because you have refused to allow yourself to suffer through chronic pain without making sure that you use it for a purpose that you’ve found God instilling in you.

I am just a girl who started a website in 1996 because I couldn’t find any other Christians who live with chronic illness. And look what God has done.

And what He is doing– through you!

1 Corinthians 3:5-9 in The Message says,

“Who do you think Paul is, anyway? Or Apollos, for that matter? Servants, both of us—servants who waited on you as you gradually learned to entrust your lives to our mutual Master. We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God, who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God’s field in which we are working.”

It’s an honor for me to be working beside you in God’s field. Yes, I know some of you are thinking, “But I am not ‘working’! I can barely get out of bed this week.” I understand. I have times like that too. I use them to read Christian books, to study the scriptures in depth, to watch a bible study video online, to just soak up God. And then when I am feeling better, I can pour it forth. That could be tomorrow. . . or next year. Don’t be discouraged. God knows exactly where you are today, whether it be at work leading a team of people, a waiting room, or on the floor–stuck there even until someone can help you up.

I made a new simple video yesterday to share with you just a brief update to let you know that I am doing well and feeling back to my regular positive self. Weeping may endure for an evening, but in the morning comes rejoicing. I spent a few weeks in that valley where I felt like crying over a whole lot of nothing; sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. But you know what? There are amazing wild flowers that grow in valleys that you can’t find anywhere else. These are some of the wild flowers God has been growing while I’ve been in the valley:

• In the next couple of weeks you can look forward to the stories on our website of people who are doing amazing things that I mentioned above.
• We have a brand-new store coming out in the next week that I think will make your shopping experience much easier (and some cool new items!)
• I am just about to the editing and proof reading stage of a Bible study that goes along with the DVD “Finding Your Harbor of Hope in the Storm with Illness.”
• I’m expanding our video library of “Beyond Casseroles” clips (based on the book Beyond Casseroles) about how to encourage a chronically ill friend. Churches are asking for this! (Can we say, “Amen!”?) These will also be available on DVD and a great resource for churches, pastoral care, deacons, etc.
• And I have some other goodies that I will wait a bit longer to announce while the technical side of things get figured out.

I thank you in advance for your prayers for Rest Ministries. God is doing amazing things and that is making us more susceptible to spiritual attacks. Pray for a hedge of protection around the ministry, myself, my family, technology, and every person who visits this website at the and encourager or as the seeker.

If you have not been to the Rest Ministries website recently, I encourage you to come and visit at http://RestMinistries.com and sign up for the daily updates and devotionals so you don’t miss a thing.

God bless you,

PS: I have a wonderful book to recommend and you will be receiving an e-mail about it on February 22. I have rarely participated in author campaigns because I felt the books were not applicable to you or your needs. This book that I will be announcing, however, is excellent and I know the Christian author personally and am honored to participate in helping her make more people aware of her book.

Related articles

• Daily Devotionals Now Available Via Kindle Subscription

She discusses the 3rd splint that was designed for her. The purpose of it was to attempt to get a wider range in the bending of her new fingers, which this new splint (otherwise known as a torture device). Despite it all, you may smile at her sense of humor. She shares about the exercises & how important they are to making sure you get the most of our your joint replacement surgery. She shares about the difficulties of dealing with the pain & trying not to be grumpy.

httpv://www.youtube.com/restmin#p/u/8/zaAZ8pu-j-k

First of all, thank you for all the kind little notes you have sent me over the last few months when I zip off postcards or ezines that say, “more coming soon–life is chaotic now.” Your emails always encourage me so much & I appreciate that you never say, “Come on, girl, & get your act together!”

Your grace is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G & I am honored to be on the receiving end of it.

It’s been one of those weeks where it’s quiet around my house & yet different things I’ve been involved in have come together. I feel like I have a million things buzzing through my brain & before I can get them done or down on paper, my brain just wants to shut off. I w&er through the house unmotivated. I sit down & then–literally–can’t get up -because my knees have locked up. The phone rings & I start to get up. Nope. Not going anywhere.

Here are some of the highlights of this week…

TV Show
Monday I was just getting ready to try to get moving when my housekeeper walked in. She comes every 2 weeks & I had gotten the dates mixed up. The house was a mess & my knees had just been going out, so she kindly picked up the stuff around the house on the floor.

At 10 AM I was still walking around in my PJs & told her, “Guess what? I’m on TV right now somewhere.” “What?” she said. “Yeah,” I told her. “I don’t get the channel, but somewhere right now I hope I am making some sense.”

The show Peace in the Storm with Maureen Pratt aired every day this week. I wish we could get a copy of it, but so far, no luck. You can watch at the link provided & if you are up Friday night (tonight) at 1 AM, well, that is the last showing!

New Book
I sent out a few review copies of my book “How to Start a Chronic Illness Small Group Ministry” & while at my son’s karate class, I wrote reviews for some of the small group books I read while I researched it & added them to Amazon. I am giving away 3 copies of the book today! To qualify for the drawing, we asked people to share something on our web page here about leading a small group, your fears, if you’ve been considering it, etc. If you didn’t hear about the contest, be sure to sign up to get our daily updates from the web site.

Sale!
We are currently having a sale through May 1st . If you buy a copy of “How to Start a Chronic Illness Small Group Ministry” you get a free copy of Beyond Casseroles: 550 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend. “Tax time” has hit the friends of Rest Ministries a lot; we’d had just 3 orders (yes, 3 orders total) in the 6 or 7 days until I mailed out the flyer yesterday. So thank you to those of you who have been able to buy anything to help support us!

Web Pages
Personally, I am so burnt out on computers. My head is just tired. I’ve been trying to get the DVD of my presentation edited & I don’t have a clue what I am doing. I hired someone for $5 via www.fiverr.com to get my Facebook “Fan” Page working. If you are a “friend” on my Facebook page, you may want to note that I will be moving everything over to the “Fan” Page which Facebook (just this week) is now calling “Like” Page.

I wrote a new article that I’ve submitted around the internet, “The First 5 Steps to Take After a New Diagnosis.” This article is available to reprint on your own site or newsletter if you are interested. You can find other articles I’ve written that are free to use (these are great for support group newsletters too!) on our web site. Go to www.restministries.com & then in the dark gray navigation bar at the top hold your mouse over “Articles” & you will see a drop down bar that says, “Articles Free to Reprint” .

Carnival – What is this?
A web carnival is when a whole bunch of people write on one particular topic on their own blogs, & then submit the link to the carnival owner to see if it’s accepted. Jenni over at chronicbabe.com has started a new blog carnival for women with illness & this week’s topic was “Love, Illness, & Other Confusing Things.” This is not a Christian web site, but my blog was accepted as I discuss, “Please Don’t Kiss Me!” about my marriage & trying to not get each other sick.

May 19th we are HOSTING a carnival called “Patients for a Moment.” We will be looking for submissions! Click here to find out the topic!

We DID have a Christians with Chronic Illness Blog Carnival last year, but sadly our coordinator had to resign when her household faced unemployment & they had to move to somewhere without much internet access. If you would be interested in possibly fulfilling this role, let me know. You need to be comfortable & efficient with blogging & know what a carnival is. I think it would be great to have other Christian blogs/web sites that discuss illness to let everyone know about.

Speaking
I am excited that I have committed to attending a conference in June in St. Louis with a Christian writers group I belong to. They also had a need for someone to lead an internet marketing workshop, so I am glad to be able to give back to this wonderful organization, AWSA.

Since I recently spoke at the church I grew up, (you can read about my experience here), I am eager to start speaking more & I have a wonderful presentation for church leadership that I gave to the deacons at the First Presbyterian Church. In light of this, I decided it was time to get my “speakers” web page updated. These pages always seem self-indulgent, but they are supposed to be helpful for people who are looking for a speaker for their women’s retreat, church, support group, etc.

Devotionals
The devotionals are really the “meat” our our ministry. I like to provide some articles that are fun or helpful, but to truly grow spiritually through Rest Ministries, I encourage you to sign up for the daily devotionals. Even if you delete some of them without reading them, I know the ones you do read will bless you.If you like to get the ENTIRE devotional in your email (& not just a link) sign up here.

A special shout out of thanks to our devotional writers who are doing an amazing job sending me devotionals far in advance so I can post them to the web site a couple times a month & have them all set. Remember that our devotional writers are people just like you who are hurting, both physically & emotionally. If a devotional comforts you, please don’t hesitate to write in the comments section of the post so that our writers can hear from you.

Help us Design a Summer Bag

We have a cute little bag that we are looking for your ideas for the picture/logo. Head on over to our web site & in the comments section let us know what you would like to see on it. If we choose your idea, you win a bag!

Thank you!
So that’s it for now. Don’t forget to drop by our web site & read some of this week’s articles:

• 5 Common Mistakes People With Elderly Parents Make
• Joni & Friends Hosts Annual Summit For Disabilities Ministries
• Help Us Design This Bag!
• Buy Our New Book, Get Beyond Casseroles for Free! Expires 5/1
• Prayers for Don Piper
• When You Hope & Are Disappointed, Then What?
• Faith in God Can Lessen Depression – But We Need to Be Careful with the ‘Facts’
• There are a Growing Number of Infections From Acupuncture
• Founder of Christian Illness Ministry Appears on National Television Show
• A HopeKeepers Prayer
• Illness & Marriage – Please Don’t Kiss Me!
• Where Do You Find Rest Ministries on Google?
• Free Cleaning Services for Women w/ Cancer Gears Up for Awareness Week
• Rest Ministries Hosting “Patients for a Moment Carnival” May 19th
• The First 5 Steps to Take After a New Diagnosis
• Tools for Family Caregivers is New Program of Partners Against Pain
• How Do I Stop Feeling Guilty When My Parents Won’t Accept My Boundaries?
• Speaking at The Church I Grew Up In
• Couples Are Divorcing to Pay Medical Bills & Get Needed Coverage
• Can You Use Twitter to Comfort People?

What have I learned this week?

I’ve enjoyed the quiet moments with my son. Last Friday we went to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid at the movies. We’ve done trivia games, made pesto pizzas with shrimp (& he actually touched the shrimp – he’s come a long way.) We stood outside with the bubble machine on one of the windy days & covered the neighborhood with blueberry scented bubbles.

The video games have not been on in more than 10 days – by his choice. Last weekend he set up his entire battery-operated Thomas the Train track through the house, down the hallway, under the coffee tables, & more & then attached his camera & made movies with it.

I used to need the video games so I had something to “take away” when his behavior wasn’t good, but he’s been such a good kid, there’s been no need to threaten anything. Despite my pain that has been heightened this week due to the storm & pressure in the air, I’ve truly relaxed & enjoyed just being a mom & treasuring these moments before they slip away.

In the back of my mind, I am eager to get done with the ‘busy work’ of the ministry so I can start back in on my “moms with chronic illness book.” I can so see God’s h& in each step of this journey.

May God hold you in the palm of His h& this week — & let you feel it!

Lisa Copen

Click here for our newest issue of HopeNotes #86 today!

I have much to share with you, but first I want to share some of the highlights of how many lives have been touched by Rest Ministries in 2009– & this is because of all of you! You tell a friend, start a HopeKeepers group, Twitter an update, & even read this newsletter.

• Over 5000 people receive daily devotionals at chronicillnessdevotionals.com
• 1400 people reside in our Sunroom at restministriessunroom.com
• I answered over 7000 emails
• Over 20,000 people have listened to our seminars from Invisible Illness Week at blogtalkradio.com/invisibleillconf
• 3028 people receive our weekly newsletter HopeNotes (send a blank email to hopenotes_ezine@getresponse.com to subscribe)
• 799 people have joined our Invisible Illness Week Fan Page at http://tinyurl.com/y963rfd
• Nearly 18,000 people have watched our videos
  on YouTube at youtube.com/restmin
• Nearly 1000 people have connected with our founder on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/hopekeepers & 2500 on Twitter at www.lisaontwitter.com
• We began http://illnesstwitters.ning.com to reach out to nonbelievers & have over 200 members
• Hundreds have joined various programs online at Rest Ministries attended HopeKeepers groups & more.

The new year is nearly here & as many of you do, I have been reflecting on my own life, my ministry, & my family. To be honest with you, I am simply burned out & exhausted — physically & spiritually –due to trying to keep up with everything in my life & not actually enjoying any of it to the extent that God desires.

I have been reading some wonderful books including “Leading on Empty: Refilling Your Tank & Renewing Your Passion” by Wayne Cordeiro. Ironically, he explains that this feeling/phase will typically hit every seven years. Rest Ministries began in 1996, so,the good news is, I guess I am right on schedule.

When the Lord created a calling in my heart for ministry that serves those with chronic illness in the early 90s, I had no idea how much I would be blessed by it & how it would become a part of who I am. I got my first computer in 1996 & started a web site, not really knowing what I was doing. People came to it, connected, & desired more. And since then groups such as Share & Prayer & our daily devotionals have
fed people daily.

As much as technology has changed, we have continued to try our best to keep up too!

I have seen many of my dreams come true such as having a HopeKeepers magazine. Other dreams have not materialized such as having a retreat or conference. For the last year I have carefully been considering what direction the Lord would like to take Rest Ministries. I knew He wanted more than for me to just delete spam & flounder around.

I have also entered a new season with my rheumatoid arthritis. This is the fist year in many that I’ve not flown anywhere, spoken, or exhibited for the ministry. I had to cancel plans to go to my women’s leadership retreat because of finances & health issues & this is where I always get “refilled.”

As my own personal health continues to decline, I must take my own abilities & limitations into consideration. God is not surprised b any of this & He could heal me if He so desired. Instead, He wants me to look at my abilities (& inabilities) & seek His will for the ministry with them in
mind.

Regarding the ministry, the only immediate change is how you will start to receive daily devotionals. We will be moving them from Yahoogroups to another service so watch for news on how to confirm your subscription to them.

But for the next few weeks, you will not see any changes immediately, as I am still reading, & praying, & seeking advice from mentors.

I am, however, looking back at what my original calling was from the Lord & why I began Rest Ministries: to encourage & equip.

- To encourage those who live a chronic illness. To walk alongside Christians who are dealing with chronic conditions & take them from a place of depression to discipleship. And to encourage those who do not know Christ that life can still be a joyful experience despite their diagnosis of a chronic illness, by introducing them to our Lord.

- And to equip the church body with tools to help them more effectively reach out to those who live with chronic illness.

I will be rebuilding our Board of Directors, as each individual on it has gone through significant suffering & some have also lost their passion.
One family is dealing with the death of an adult child due to suicide, another man our Board of Directors passed away this last year of cystic fibrosis.

It may be a new season for my body & illness, but it can also be a wonderful, exciting new season for Rest Ministries.

The things I love the most are to write & speak, & they are the two things that have been pushed aside for great deal of time while I simply have tried to keep up with the busy-work.

And as I have been reading books about ministry & mentoring, etc., I can feel God stirring my hunger again to go back to what was His original
calling.

One of the things that I must do in order to continue to be able to “do ministry” is to have a computer that works well, & works well for me. After much research & I would like to purchase the HP Touchscreen.

My h& therapist says I will never be able to type much again with my left h& or all the tendons will fall back into the place they were previously. As of yesterday, my range of motion is barely half of what the surgeon & therapist had hoped for. Though I am pleased with the surgery giving me the use of fingers that will work again, typing is not one of those skills I will be able to return to & my right h& only has an index finger that I type with. Stress of using the mouse – & the fact that it is just a matter of time before having surgery on the right h&, have forced me to look at my options with technology.

With the Touchscreen, I will be able to vary the tension on my h&s between the screen & the mouse, & it will also be a bigger, better computer that will work more effectively with my voice recognition program. (I have the software, but it takes about three times as long than as if I had typed it.) My computer is over 5 years old & slowing daily tasks down a great deal.

The computer monitor screen itself on the Touchscreen, is also large & shiny– much easier to see for me, as my cataracts have surrounded my retina “bull’s-eye” according to the doctor. I see big white spots most of the time & am having increased difficulty reading. I will be having cataract surgery on at least one eye & in the new year as soon as my h& has healed & I see what exactly insurance will cover.

I know that finances are difficult for everyone right now. However, if you all are in the position
where you are giving year-end donations, please remember Rest Ministries in your gifts. You can also send a check by December 31, 2009 if you’d like it to count toward your 2009 donations. It just needs dated by the post office by 12/31/2009.

The computer, updated software, etc. will cost about $1500 & this is where I’d like to put the 2009 year end donations. As you may know I don’t receive any salary & donate all of my book sales to the ministry to keep it going. So, I know it can sound like a splurge, but for me, it’s become a necessity.

Thank you so much for all the prayers that you pray for Rest Ministries. Many of you email me & say, “I pray for RM every day.” It is because of you we still exist & are touching lives daily. Many of you also volunteer so much of your time to Rest Ministries. Those numbers at the top of this note would not be possible without you! From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!

Much love,

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Founder

Celebrate with us as we share some of the things Rest Ministries was a part of this year & where Lisa sees RM heading in 2010.

You can always find the most recent issue at this link:
http://www.restministries.org/hopenotes/mostrecent.htm