Support Groups Archives - Rest Ministries - Chronic Illness and Pain Support

Devotion: Complaints or Creativity?

August 19, 2011 By admin 3 Comments

“You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator (Colossians 3:9, 10). Creativity and adaptability have never been my strong points but God is using my health problems to develop these character traits within me. As my health has deteriorated I have given up various activities and responsibilities, and I am learning to accept these limitations. Yet I am also learning there may be creative ways to work around some weaknesses, rather than complaining and giving up hope. Some of these adaptations are rather humorous. I have difficulty sleeping so have acquired quite an accumulation of pillows to keep me comfortable. Thankfully our bed … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, What's New? Tagged With: chronicpain, Conditions and Diseases, Creativity, Father God, God, Health, Pain, Support Groups

Poem: The Gift of Pain

May 4, 2011 By admin 2 Comments

By Cindee Snider Re The Gift of Pain Physical, emotional, chronic – Consumes, swallows, saps, Drains. Connecting, responding, Reaching out Requires more Energy, Effort, Emotion, Than the pain sometimes allows, Leaving me separated, isolated, Alone. Words lie flat on printed pages – Unclear, Obscure, Perplexing. Thoughts drift, wander, Swirl out of reach, Refusing to make sense, Take shape, Opaque, Leaving me wordless, Isolated, Alone. Pain is difficult to define, Describe, color, Number, name, A formless image, A vapor, a mist, A mirage That dissolves, dissembles, disappears As I try to capture it in words, Wanting it to be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Articles, Overwhelmed, Poems, Spiritually Struggling, What's New? Tagged With: Emotion, Father God, God, God the Father, Health, Lisa Saunders, Medical Specialties, Medicine, Pain, Pain Mgmt & Illnesses, Soul, Support Groups, Teachable

Cecil Murphy and Twila Belk Beginning Live Call-In Show Tonight

October 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Many of you are familiar with Cecil Murphy, if not from one of his 100+ books, then from the lovely book, “90 Minutes in Heaven” (which we carry at Rest Ministries bookstore!) Twila says, “We’ll have a bit of fun and give you the opportunity to learn the inside scoop on Cec. And we’ll dialogue about a different topic each weeksometimes tough topics.” In light of so much recent news in the media about lawsuits surrounding the issue of sexual abuse, and because Cec is a survivor and has written When a Man You Love Was Abused: A Woman’s Guide to Helping Him Overcome Childhood Sexual Molestation , we’ll discuss that topic during our first show. If you listen to the live streaming, call in with questions and comments at … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Announcements, Church Leader, Depression, Links, Our Best Tips, Person w/ Illness, Podcasts, Support Group Leader Tagged With: Caregiver, cecil murphey, Child sexual abuse, Men, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pope Benedict XVI, Sexual abuse, Support Groups, Survivors, twila belk

Interview with Disabilities Columnist

May 3, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Lisa had the honor of being interviewed by disabilities advocate, Daniel Vance, earlier this year & just recently the column about Rest Ministries was printed. It is always exciting to see the potential of people that can be reached through announcements, columns, articles & more! Here is an excerpt “Churches are gradually becoming more receptive to the idea that people with chronic illness or pain may not be physically healed this side of heaven,” said Copen. “Even if healed, it may not be for years, & they need support & encouragement through that journey.” She said many churches often don't or are unable to respond well to people with chronic illness or pain, in part because the affected person's needs usually never end. She … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Links, What's New? Tagged With: Chronic, Chronic Illness, chronically ill, Conditions and Diseases, ebates, Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story, God, Health, hopekeepers, joni and friends, Lisa, Rest Ministries, Rheumatoid arthritis, Support Groups, worries moms have

We’re Giving Away 3 Copies of Our New Small Groups Book!

April 15, 2010 By admin 13 Comments

We're giving away 3 copies of this new book by Lisa Copen! If you are even thinking about starting an illness support group, you won't want to miss this book. It's packed full of 320-pages of all the answers RM Director Lisa has given group leaders in emails for over 10 years. It also includes a chapters on Suffering, Healing, & How Churches Can Make a Difference. Here are some of the other things you will find in this new book! What a chronic illness is & does it matter if it's invisible A brief history of illness ministry in the medical community Benefits of small group ministry for the individual & the church How to lead when you are ill Steps to formulate the purpose of your small group, the logistics, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Books, Church Leader, Founder's Blog, HopeKeepers Resources, HopeKeepers Start Up Info, Our Best Tips, Person w/ Illness, RM Shop E-flyers, Support Group Leader, What's New? Tagged With: Academic term, chaplain, Chicken nugget, Christianity, Chronic, Chronic pain, Church, Cold turkey, Creativity, CubeSat, Excedrin, Facebook, homeschool, hope keepers, hopekeepers, leading support group, Levite, lisa copen, Medicine, parish nurse, Religion and Spirituality, Rest Ministries, Samuel, Saturday morning cartoon, Scar, Scooby Doo, small group ministry, small groups, State school, Support group, Support Groups, Tony Evans, Website

I Find No Fault

April 2, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

"I find no fault in Him!" The crowd heard Pilate say, And yet they took my precious Lord To Calvary to pay The price for all the sin & wrong That we would ever do. While knowing that someday we all Would st& & be judged, too. They led Him down that lonely road, "Way of Suffering" the name, They mocked Him & they scourged Him, And, they placed on Him all blame. He drank the bitter cup Without a word in His defense, But, when He cried, "Tis finished!" The angry crowd could sense This was no ordinary man Who hung there on the tree, And, gave His love, His life, His all To ransom you & me. When on the third day He arose, And conquered death & sin, He spoke to us of heavenly homes. And new life to begin. If … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals, Holidays, Poems Tagged With: Christian encouragement, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, Conditions and Diseases, Connective Tissue, daily devotionals, Easter, Fibromyalgia, God, Health, Holy Ghost, hopekeepers, illness ministry, invisible illness, meditation, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Rest Ministries, Support Groups, Trust (social sciences), West Michigan

How to Pay Those Impossible Medical Bills

March 16, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

This is an excellent article about saving money on medical bills by Penny McCracken. It was featured on the National Fibromyalgia Awareness web site & we thought provided some steps & insight into what she did to lower some of her bills. And while you're there be sure to check out this article too: Stay on Top of Your Finances... Even When You're Lost in Fibrofog . Regardless of your illness there is something to learn! Related articles Obesity & Fibromyalgia: a Painful Barrier to Weight Loss? (drsharma.ca) How Are You Overcoming Your Fibromyalgia? (ohmyaches&pains.info) Musician with Fibromyalgia Donates Album Proceeds to NFA (fightingfatigue.org) … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Links, Our Best Tips, Save $, What's New? Tagged With: chaplaincy, chaplian, Chemical Sensitivities, Conditions and Diseases, Connective Tissue, Fibromyalgia, Health, Ill Kids Ministries, Illness, Illness Ministries, Illness Specific Ministries, Musculoskeletal Disorders, parenting when ill, Parenting When Ill, Support Groups, Website

Have You Experienced Getting or Keeping SSI for Your Children

March 9, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

Doug Smith, author of PDs Disability Workbook, is looking for your experiences & stories. He states on his web site, "We urgently request your suggestion of private non-profit organizations who sponsor support groups for parents of children with disabilities receiving SSI (Supplemental Security Income)." Parents are contacting him asking this information & he would like contacted at dfacts@earthlink.net if you are willing to suggest an organization that has served you well while you were getting or receiving SSI for a child with disabilities. Please give some details of how the organization helped you. Related articles by Zemanta ChildRC.com Provides Useful Financial Resources for Families of Children with Cerebral Palsy … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Advocacy, Caregiving, Links, Medical Professional, Our Best Tips, Parent of Ill or Disabled Child, Parenting, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Child, children with disabilities, Developmental Disability Ministries, disabilities, Disability, Disabled, Jake Shimabukuro, Lisa Saunders, Media, Non-profit organization, parenting when ill, Prayer Support, Speakers & Authors, Support group, Support Groups, Thank You (Gift Books), Thorn in the flesh, Website

In The Refuge of His Love

February 12, 2010 By admin 4 Comments

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Matt 10:29-31 NIV) Four intent felines sitting inside my bay window; they look outside at a little squirrel hungrily eating birdseed. My precious fur babies. The only thing that holds them back from jumping outside & attacking the sweet little hungry squirrel is the clear glass in the window. How ironic. The glass in that window is like Jesus & the Holy Spirit. It protects the little creature from being devoured. Many times as hurting Christians we may feel like our bodies & other things in life are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals Tagged With: absence seizures, Christian encouragement, Chronic Illness, Chronic pain, Conditions and Diseases, daily devotionals, Fibromyalgia, Health, Holy Spirit, hopekeepers, illness ministry, invisible illness, Jesus, meditation, Pain, Rest Ministries, Support Groups, Trust (social sciences), West Michigan

Even Minimal Activity Decreases Depression

January 26, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

If you are stuck in a rut right now & feeling the blues of winter you likely have heard how exercise can boost your mood & decrease levels of depression. However, when your body is sore & you are feeling depressed, who actually feels like exercising? Personally, we'd much rather grab a bowl of macaroni & cheese & watch a Lifetime movie. The good news is that although lots of studies may have shown that exercise can decrease depression, a new health survey done in Britain with 20,000 people, has revealed that it actually takes very little physical activity to lift your spirits. Just 1-3 twenty-minute sessions a week of activity reduced people’s suffering of depression. In fact, they found that the biggest impact on one's mood, came … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Depression, Exercise, Our Best Tips, Person w/ Illness, What's New? Tagged With: Depression, Disorders, Gratitude, Health, Henry Ford, Lisa Saunders, Mental Health, Physical exercise, Retreats, Support Groups, Weight loss

American Pain Foundation & National Pain Foundation Merge

January 15, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

The American Pain Foundation recently announced that it will be taking over the programs & services of the National Pain Foundation. This transfer will includes web content, program & membership materials, a pain health care provider directory, & the John C. Oakley Memorial Fund. By May 2010 the National Pain Foundation, which began in 1998, will cease all operations. They invited the American Pain Foundation to integrate the National Pain Foundation's assets due to "synergies in mission & organizational structure." Read more at the American pain Foundation web site. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health News, Person w/ Illness Tagged With: Conditions and Diseases, Health, Health care, Medical Specialties, Medicine, Support Groups, United States, Website

Pain as a Gift?

January 7, 2010 By admin 1 Comment

“Every good & perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV) I remember some years ago, reading the book “Pain – The Gift Nobody Wants” written by Phillip Yancey & Dr. Paul Br&, that talks about how being able to feel pain is a gift. Dr. Br& worked treating patients with leprosy & their biggest problem was probably that they couldn’t feel pain in the extremities of their body due to the leprosy, & so they injured themselves, sometimes over & over again. I had never realized that was why so may people with leprosy had missing fingers or toes & it helped me to see pain in a new light. After more than twenty years of living with … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Devotionals Tagged With: Christmas, Chronic pain, Conditions and Diseases, Gift, God, Health, Shopping, Support Groups