Friend Has Illness Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

Can You Think of Others To Relieve Pain?

April 29, 2013 By admin 50 Comments

DOES THINKING ABOUT OTHERS HELP YOU COPE WITH CHRONIC PAIN? This #devotional writer shares that despite her skepticism it did just that. When you think about those around you does your pain lessen?

When we take the time to think of others can our pain really be relieved? Vicki shares how this can be possible. “When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to her, ‘Woman, where is your son,’ and to the disciple, ‘Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home" (John 19:26-27). “Just think of others.” Did your doctor ever prescribe that for pain relief? Who can even think of others when in pain? Recently, I had dental work done. Some of you might wince just at the thought--for good reason. The pain is merely the beginning of what elicits such fright. Financial fear hits when the work is done. You leave with a numb face and an empty wallet. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Friend Has Illness, Friendships, Support Group Leader, What's New?

When You Suffer With Those Who Suffer Do You Feel God’s Presence?

April 22, 2013 By admin 6 Comments

WHEN YOU SUFFER WITH THOSE WHO SUFFER WHAT HAPPENS? We are meant to encourage one another, to sit quietly beside be who is suffering, offering a shoulder to cry on and our presence. Do you let other suffer with you? Do you send a message to people that you would like their presence or do you send unspoken signs to back off?

Do you suffer with those who suffer or do you back off and say "I'll pray for you"? Pastor Chris explains. "Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.” (Romans 12:15) God so often sends people into our lives at just the right time. Sometimes it’s just the right time for you. Sometimes it’s just the right time for them. Most often, it’s just the right time for you both. God’s heart is for community, for sharing life together. The reason God gave us one another is to intertwine our lives together in a way symbolic of the way He intertwines His life with ours. God is like a grand baker, He is always mixing ingredients. He mixed together His creation of Adam and Eve in the creative act of marriage and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Finding Purpose, Friend Has Illness, Grief, What's New?

Responding With Grace To Those Who Offer New Cures

July 19, 2012 By admin 6 Comments

When someone with good intentions presents the latest new cures for your illness, how do you respond with grace and not resentment? Michele shares. “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:20-21) Almost daily I receive messages from someone who suggests I try something that has helped them. Knowing they are well meaning, I appreciate all the suggestions; although I feel that they do not understand my chronic illnesses; for what may help one, does not mean it will help me too. Even when I’ve tried the latest “fad” or treatment, months later my body becomes immune to the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Alternative Treatments, Devotionals, Explaining Illness, Friend Has Illness, Healing, Hurt Feelings, Invisible Illnesses, What's New? Tagged With: new cures

“You Are Too Young to Be That Sick!”

June 14, 2012 By admin 16 Comments

"You are too young to be that ill! Oh, you are too young to be dealing with that kind of pain." Why do simple, even well-intentioned words hurt so much? By Lisa Copen At the age of twenty-four, a thousand miles away from my family and living in a new city, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Over a period of four weeks and about eight doctor’s visits, I finally found a physician of internal medicine who listened to me explain my symptoms; in less than two days I had a diagnosis. Despite the terms “chronic” and “forever” I felt relieved to know the label that described my chronic pain. Few of my friends, however, shared my enthusiasm for a diagnosis. The managers at my office were more concerned about the fact that I … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Coping Skills, Depression, Explaining Illness, Friend Has Illness, Friendships, Invisible Illnesses, Need to Know, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Arthritis, Chronic, Conditions and Diseases, Fibromyalgia, Health, hidden disabilities, Illness, invisible disabilities, invisible illness, Life Disrupted: Getting Real About Chronic Illness in Your Twenties and Thirties, lisa copen, Pain, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, San Diego, you are too young, you dont look sick, you look fine

Bring a Meal and Make is Special With Free Printable Labels

May 7, 2012 By admin 21 Comments

When one is chronically ill, and a friend wishes to help her, the first thing that comes to mind is to bring a meal. In fact, since the most popular gift to bring is a meal, I wrote the book, Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend to get people to think beyond food. Sometimes all we can think of is to bring a meal! Why is that? Well, a meal is a gift of comfort. And even though we --who are chronically ill--may be physically able to cook, it takes a burden off of us so that we can use the energy we would have spent cooking doing something else. I have discovered that many people who cook for the chronically ill and offer to bring a meal to them, are actually ill themselves. Though it is easy to understand new … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Beyond Casseroles, Caregiver, Cooking, Free Printables, Friend Has Illness, Invisible Illnesses, Ministry - Personal, Need to Know, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic, Chronic Illness, Conditions and Diseases, deacons, free labels for meals, Health, meal delivery, meals for family, meals for recovery, organize meals, organize meals for sick friend, printables, Rest Ministries, take a meal

52 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend

May 2, 2012 By admin 5 Comments

If you are looking for ways to encourage a friend who is living with a chronic illness, dealing with a lot of pain, or even fighting cancer, this article is a great starting point to think creatively! Get the "Beyond Casseroles" book for 505 ways! By Lisa Copen Excerpt from Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend - Please do not reprint without permission or reword a few of the ideas and post as your own article. We've seen quite a few out there and appreciate you linking back to the source here. Thanks! "A good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future, the key to sanity in a totally insane world." ~Lois Wyse Ask, "What events in your life are changing and how are you … [Read more...]

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

Loss, Grief and Mourning Books: Christian Resources

April 27, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

Are you in a season of grief and mourning? Have you suffered a loss? Here are a list of top Christian books that address these emotions. Grief and mourning, loss. They are such a simple words yet holds sooo-o-o much emotion, don't they? To compile this list of grief and mourning books, I asked a group of Christian women authors of a group I am part of, AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association). They eagerly told me what books they recommend to people (many of them are also counselors), and what books they had written of specific areas of grief. Some of these books we have even carried in our Rest Ministries bookstore over the years such as, The Gift of Mourning Glories by Georgia Shaffer about her journey with cancer and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Books, Church Leader, Depression, Friend Has Illness, HopeKeepers Resources, Loneliness, Overwhelmed, Person w/ Illness, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: A Grief Observed, advanced writers and speakers association, awsa, books on grief, grief, Grief Loss and Bereavement, grief and mourning, husband, Illness, loss of child, loss of loved one, Pain, resources on grief, Suicide, widowhood, wife

What I’d Like to Tell The Pastor About Living with Illness

April 13, 2012 By admin 14 Comments

If you had the opportunity to sit down and really share about your pain, what would you tell the pastor of your church about your chronic illness and daily pain? Lisa Copen Living with chronic illness is lonely. Everyone around us seems to be enjoying health, happiness, and the ability to at least pursue their dreams. But many of us feel lonely, scared, and disappointed. We are faced with so many insecurities and we are living with an illness that we have not been able to pray away, cry away, or confess away. So we turn to our church for guidance, for acceptance, for unconditional support during the most difficult time in our life. But churches are made up of people—all of us imperfect. And our church does not always give us … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Articles - Read, Caregiver, Church Leader, Depression, Explaining Illness, Friend Has Illness, HopeKeepers Resources, Hurt Feelings, Loneliness, Medical Professional, Need to Know, Parent of Ill or Disabled Child, Person w/ Illness, Person w/ lll Spouse, Share Your Story, Spiritually Struggling, Support Group Leader, Teen w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: care pastor, Christianity, Chronic, Chronic pain, Church, church disabilities ministry, Conditions and Diseases, Congregational, congregational care, Denominations, disability ministry, Disabled, disabled ministry, disablity, God, Health, Illness, Jesus, Joni Eareckson Tada, joni erickson tada, joni tada, Lord, Online Communities, parish, parish nurse, pastor, pastoral care, pastors, Prayer, Religion and Spirituality, Rest Ministries, small groups, Stephen Ministries, stephen ministry

A Letter to One Afflicted With Illness (From One Who is Also Afflicted)

February 21, 2012 By admin 9 Comments

Karlton Douglas, one of our regular devotional writers, had someone who has recently been diagnosed with a chronic illness write to him asking for advice in a few areas. Karlton wrote him back and then sent a copy of the letter to us to see if we would be interested in reprinting it here at Rest Ministries. I hope you will read it and comment below on what you agree with, disagree with, your experience and more. What advice would you give someone who has just been diagnosed with an illness that may last his or her lifetime? A Letter to One Afflicted With Illness (From One Who is Also Afflicted) I think most of my life with illness I have felt it is a battle the Lord and I have fought alone. Beyond praying with me and a bit of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Church Leader, Friend Has Illness, Hurt Feelings, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Christianity, chronic conditions, Chronic pain, God, Health, Hurt Feelings, if i could tell my healthy friends something, karlton douglas, letter to healthy friends, letter to those with loved ones who have a chronic illness, Lord, Ohio, Psalm, Rest Ministries, when healthy people do not understand chronic illness

What To Do For Those Who Are Hurting When You Don’t Know What To Do

November 17, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

As the holidays approach more people than usual are looking for ways to reach out to help a hurting friend. Sadly, this shouldn't be a seasonal event, but something we do all year round. But most people just don't know how to do that reaching out! Well, thanks to a wonderful book we don't have that excuse any longer! One of my all-time favorite books is The Art of Helping: What to Say and Do When Someone is Hurting by Lauren Littauer Briggs. In fact, I am very honored to have a section in it for those with chronic illness. But the whole book is helpful for those of us who, well, care. And it is one of the few books I believe should be on the desk of every pastor and church secretary! So much so that when it was first published we … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Books, Caregiver, Caregiving, Church Leader, Friend Has Illness, Holidays, Medical Professional, Need to Know, Person w/ lll Spouse, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: cae-giver, Caregiver, depressed about loss of pet, Family, how to help a firend, reaching out, when a friend is hurting, when a friend is ill

Q&A: What Do I Do About My Friend Who Keeps Bringing Me Down?

May 19, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

I have a friend who I've known for years. We used to go out partying before my diagnosis, but now I've really become grounded in my faith, because God is the only thing that has gotten me through. She keeps saying she "knows the real me" and I cannot possibly be satisfied with this life I have now. Whenever I share something I've learned while living with illness or about anything good in my life, she has something negative to say about how much I am missing out on in life because of my illness. I care about her, but I just don't know if I can continue to be around her right now if she keeps this up. - Kelly Hi, Kelly, Do you know someone who is the same now as they were 30 or even 40 years ago? They love to complain and stir up … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Explaining Illness, Friend Has Illness, Help! Q/A, Person w/ Illness, Teen w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Christ, Christian, Christianity, Evangelism, God, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Religion & Spirituality, Religion and Spirituality

A Gift For a Best Friend Who Is Ill Can Be Patio Decorations

April 14, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

When you have a friend who is ill, it can be difficult to think of some fresh ideas for small little things to bring some cheer to his or her life. In this video, Lisa Copen, author of "Beyond Casseroles: 505 Ways to Encourage a Chronically Ill Friend" supplies ideas of gifts to cheer up a friend who is ill, which can be store bought or homemade wind chimes, gardening tools for arthritis or garden flags. It can be nice to bring real flowers or plants, but then the person who is ill can feel guilty when the plants die. See how a cute decorative garden flower or wind chime can be a wonderful present. You can find more of these videos all at one web site, beyondcasserolesvideos.com . … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Beyond Casseroles, Caregiver, Church Leader, Friend Has Illness, Support Group Leader, Videos, What's New?