awareness week Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

Why You Should Care About Invisible Illness Awareness Week

August 29, 2012 By admin 1 Comment

Invisible Illness Awareness Week is a great opportunity to learn new skills from authors and experts (many of them Christian professionals), as well as share your hope! Hi there, friends! Well, my son is back to school and I am in crunch-mode for Invisible Illness Awareness Week! What is II Week? Ten years ago I saw many people here at Rest Ministries who were on a great walk with God. They even had some idea how God may be able to use their illness for His glory. But there was a little problem. . . A lot of people still felt incredibly bitter, angry even, that no one understood what they were experiencing on a daily basis. And, oh my! The frustration they had about having an invisible illness really rocked their world. It seeped … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Announcements, Articles, Events, Invisible Illnesses, What's New? Tagged With: awareness week

Awareness Week Preparations Begin For Those with Invisible Illnesses

July 17, 2012 By admin 4 Comments

We have started our summer preparations for Invisible Illness Awareness Week! Hi, Friends! I am excited to be kicking off our summer prep for National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week! Did you know Rest Ministries is behind this awareness week? Rest Ministries began National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week (NICIAW "for short" -- I know it's a mouth full!) in 2002 and so we are celebrating 10 years this year! When we first began the awareness week, we had a chatroom for our virtual conference and the term "invisible illness" was rarely even seen online. Through the years, the support of many of you have made this awareness week one of the coolest events online, as thousands join in for the virtual conference (where … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Advocacy, Announcements, Attitude, Coping Skills, Events, Explaining Illness, HopeKeepers Resources, Illnesses, Invisible Illnesses, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: awareness week, invisible illness awareness week

Pain Solutions Magazine Online Has Article by Lisa

May 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Magazines continue to go through phases of trying to get off the ground and Pain Solutions is no exception. it was supposed to be out last summer of 2009, and just now their first issue has come out and it's only digital. But . . . we understand that all too well around here! Please note: Here is my paragraph of disclaimer: While it is a secular publication & Rest Ministries does not recommend or endorse it in any way, I am excited to be able to go out "into the world" so more people can hear about Rest Ministries. Still, did they have to put a half nude woman on the cover? I grow weary of this! . . . but this is one of the reasons Rest Ministries exists. So you have been forewarned; it's not suitable for everyone. I have an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Announcements, Founder's Blog, Health News, Links, What's New? Tagged With: awareness week, being honest, boundaries, can you be too polite, Christian, christians and depression, Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, Debbie, Depression, depression and illness, disabilities, diseases, God, Health, health conditions, hopekeepers, invisible illness, invisible illness virtual conference, Invisible Illness Week, invisible illness week conference, invisible illness week seminars, invisibleillnessweek, Magazine, manners, Oswald Chambers, Promotion, Rest Ministries, setting limits, small group leadership resource, symptoms, too nice

6 Reasons the Chronically Ill Should Shun Making Resolutions

February 17, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

"3-2-1 Happy New Year!" Is it? When that ball dropped in Times Square did you have some New Year's resolutions all ready to start January second? - I'm going to lose that extra weight - I'll really save some money this year - I'll give people more grace - I will exercise on a regular schedule - I will start some good habits We all start out with the best of intentions but as March 23rd rolls around we reflect on all the ways we've already let our goals slide. It's easy to feel like we are letting ourselves & those we love down. The concept of setting resolutions is worthy & helpful for most people. When you are chronically ill, however, resolutions can be wearisome & even scary. Most of the time our bodies & our health, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Person w/ Illness, Reflection, What's New? Tagged With: #iiwk09, awareness week, blogging for invisible illness week, Christian, christians and depression, Chronic, Chronic Illness, chronic illness and goals, chronic illness resolutions, Chronic pain, Conditions and Diseases, Depression, depression and illness, disabilities, diseases, Emergency department, Health, health conditions, Health insurance, hopekeepers, invisible illness, invisible illness news, invisible illness personal stories, invisible illness virtual conference, Invisible Illness Week, invisible illness week conference, invisible illness week seminars, invisibleillnessweek, New Year, Rest Ministries, Support group, symptoms, Times Square

A Nice Surprise – I Found an II Week Button!

February 6, 2010 By admin 3 Comments

Last week I stood at the counter of my rheumatologist to pay & happened to see this small button sitting there on the counter. "Do you know what this means?" I asked the receptionist, Frank, picking it up. "No," He said. "I think someone accidentally left it here." "This," I said pick it up to show him, "means 'my illness is invisible but my hope shines through.'" I turned to my husb& who was with me that day. "Look! It's one of my Invisible Illness Week buttons." I turned back to Frank & said "I actually designed this. How cool is that?" Frank asked again "Now what does it mean?" "The initials st& for 'My Illness is Invisible But My Hope Shines Through.'" I explained. "See, you wear it on your coat or something & then when … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Founder's Blog, Silly Stuff, What's New? Tagged With: awareness week, Business, California, Christian, Chronic Illness, Conditions and Diseases, disabilities, diseases, Ephesus, Health, invisible illness, Paul of Tarsus, San Diego, Shopping

Nothing is Too Small To Matter to God

January 21, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

“Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Luke 12:7 I am fortunate that I have never had to deal with a complete loss of my hair. However, being on certain medications, including a kind of injectable low dose chemotherapy, has given my once precious thick hair online of its own. It has turned thin & straight, to kinky & frizzy. Now it is somewhere in between, being both thin & frizzy, straight to kinky. Every time I go to get it cut the beautician exclaims how it feels like straw or even pretend doll’s hair. When you live daily with a chronic illness it can be easy to become discouraged when your body doesn't work the way you wish it would. Perhaps you feel like every muscle aches in your body. Or that you are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals Tagged With: awareness week, Christian, christians and depression, Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, Conditions and Diseases, daily scripture readings and meditations, Depression, depression and illness, disabilities, diseases, encouraging scriptures, finding peace through trials scripture, Health, health conditions, hopekeepers, invisible illness, Rest Ministries, Shopping, symptoms, Water

Finding Hope Despite Depression – Mini-Bible Study

January 19, 2010 By admin 3 Comments

Depression is a difficult trial to endure. God has promised to carry us through each trial. In this Bible study below on depression, God’s Bible promises will shine a light of hope to carry you through. God is here for you in the present “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.” (Psalm 130:1-2, NIV) God hears our cries for help in the midst of depression. Have you been depressed? Describe a trial of depression you have experienced. How has God answered your cries for help? Journaling can be used as a form of prayer You can address it to God. You can then release all of your concerns to God. You can then end it on a positive note with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Depression, Person w/ Illness, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: #iiwk09, awareness week, blogging for invisible illness week, Christian, christians and depression, Chronic pain, depression and illness, disabilities, diseases, God, Happiness, Health, health conditions, hopekeepers, invisible illness, invisible illness news, invisible illness personal stories, invisible illness virtual conference, Invisible Illness Week, invisible illness week conference, invisible illness week seminars, invisibleillnessweek, Jesus, Positive psychology, Psalm, Rest Ministries, symptoms

A Progression of Praise

January 18, 2010 By admin 2 Comments

“You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain & new wine abound” (Psalm 4:7). I noticed an interesting progression in this Psalm. David began with a cry of distress, asking God to answer him (verse 1). He acknowledged that God heard & answered his cries (verse 3), & then meditated in his heart, offering the sacrifices of praise to & trust in God (verses 4-5). He ended the Psalm being filled with joy. I also noted that in other Psalms of distress, whether joy was a byproduct or not, the authors reminded themselves of God’s faithfulness & ended with victorious words of assurance. I began thinking of the way I h&le my times of distress. Yes, I cry out to God, begging for relief, but do I continue as David … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals Tagged With: #iiwk09, awareness week, blogging for invisible illness week, Christ, Christian, christians and depression, Chronic pain, depression and illness, disabilities, diseases, Divine grace, Fibromyalgia, God, Health, health conditions, Holy Spirit, hopekeepers, inspirational stories, invisible illness, invisible illness news, invisible illness personal stories, invisible illness virtual conference, Invisible Illness Week, invisible illness week conference, invisible illness week seminars, invisibleillnessweek, Learning, Psalms, Rest Ministries, symptoms

Reminder: Devotionals are Moving Friday!

January 14, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Just a reminder that we are moving our devotionals! You can still receive them via email each day (at the same time event!), but you need to sign up! Friday WILL BE THE LAST DAY that you will receive them from this email address. We are UNABLE to transfer your membership. DIRECTIONS: Click below, enter your email & the confirm code. If you cannot read the confirmation code just hit the refresh button or click the link below again to open up a new page. Click here to get devotionals PLUS the other 1-2 postings/articles on Rest Ministries web site each day (best option) http://tinyurl.com/ydbcj8q Click here to get JUST devotionals: http://tinyurl.com/r4ol29c Still want Today’s Promise? Sign up directly w/ Pat … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Announcements, What's New? Tagged With: #iiwk09, awareness week, blogging for invisible illness week, Christian, christians and depression, Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, Depression, depression and illness, disabilities, diseases, Health, health conditions, hopekeepers, invisible illness, invisible illness news, invisible illness personal stories, invisible illness virtual conference, Invisible Illness Week, invisible illness week conference, invisible illness week seminars, invisibleillnessweek, Rest Ministries, symptoms

HopeNotes #84 is Posted

December 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Merry Christmas.Rest Ministries weekly issue of HopeNotes are an encouragement to you. Our newsletter, is now available for you. You can always find the most recent issue at this link: http://www.restministries.org/hopenotes/mostrecent.htm … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Newsletter - HopeNotes, What's New? Tagged With: #iiwk09, awareness week, blogging for invisible illness week, Christian, christians and depression, Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, Depression, depression and illness, disabilities, diseases, Health, health conditions, hopekeepers, invisible illness, invisible illness news, invisible illness personal stories, invisible illness virtual conference, Invisible Illness Week, invisible illness week conference, invisible illness week seminars, invisibleillnessweek, Rest Ministries, symptoms

HopeNotes #82 is Ready

December 9, 2009 By admin 2 Comments

Rest Ministries weekly issue of HopeNotes is ready for you to read here. We share some great patient advocacy resources you will want to know about. You can always find the most recent issue at this link: http://www.restministries.org/hopenotes/mostrecent.htm … [Read more...]

HopeNotes #80 is Up For You

November 25, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Happy Thanksgiving! Rest Ministries' weekly issue of HopeNotes is now available for you to read. You can always find the most recent issue at this link: http://www.restministries.org/hopenotes/mostrecent.htm … [Read more...]