Hi Friends,

Thank you for all of your prayers, as I know my emails back to you have tended to sound a bit frantic and chaotic. It pretty much comes from the home of a mom who is trying to fit in all of those last minute summer things before school starts. Joshua begins kindergarten the 19th so we've been school shopping, practicing letters, visiting the neighborhood pool and finding ways to pass the time.

Thankfully, my husband's work deadline is just about here and he will be home at 7 each night again. I've not made a real dinner in weeks and we've all missed him.

The ministry has been so encouraging to me lately. There are some little prayers and some big ones that God has answered. As things become more finalized I will share, but even making connections with some groups like parish nurses and Stephen Ministers is such a blessing!

And people seem very enthusiastic about National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week. That's where I've been spending my midnight hours, trying to get the web site going and spread the word to bloggers too. Be sure to check out not just the web site, but also our blog. I encourage you to SIGN UP HERE for our Invisible Illness Week updates. We plan to have guest bloggers for the next 30 days as well as all announcements about Invisible Illness Week will only come through this link.

We use Invisible Illness Week as our annual outreach, but many people are not believers and prefer not to get the Rest Ministries information. That's okay... we hope to just surround them with God's love and let it be between Him and them. But for you to stay in touch with everything we are doing with II Week, sign up for the updates!

May the Lord give you peace that passes understanding,

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

Yes! I can make a donation to help Rest Ministries continue their outreach!

National Invisible Chronic Illness
Awareness Week Theme Announced

September 8-14, 2008 is this year's week to bring awareness about invisible illness. Our theme is "Hope can grow from the soil of illness." We have a wide selection of goodies available for purchase now (tote bags, t-shirts, jewelry and more). We found a great company that will "drop ship it." So the day you order an item, we will order it from the company directly, and they will ship it to you to arrive in 8 days or less. So, you have the choice of lots of different items, but we aren't investing money up front for most of them. We hope it will work out best for you to get what you'd like and us to be able to be a good steward of our funds.

Brochures are now here too for Invisible Illness Week!

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Amazing Woman and HopeKeeper Leader Help Put On Workshop for Stephen Ministers About Rest Ministries

We can't tell you how excited we were to receive this email from Irma. We are eagerly awaiting to see if she can make a video of her next presentation so we can have more to share with you in case you want to do this too! Please pray that this may be a wonderful connection for us to start sharing ministry ideas with Stephen Ministries

"Recently, one of the Stephen Ministers on my team has been given a care receiver, who suffers tremendously. We were desperate to find resources for this gentleman. Word of mouth led me to tour website and I'm so very grateful. I was so impressed with it and the many helpful materials referenced that I put together an hour-long Continuing Education program for all our Stephen Ministers giving them samples and sharing the benefit of going on-line at Rest Ministries. I connected with a facilitator from a local hopekeepers Group and she came to our program, so she could share her personal experiences and insights and spread the word about the availability of her support group. Now I have some neighboring Stephen Ministry teams that also want this info shared with their group."

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Joni and Friends Conference in January
Put it on Your Calendar!

The Disabilities Ministry Summit on the West Coast, sponsored by Joni and Friends International Disability Center, has been scheduled for January 23-24, 2009. It will be held at "Paz Naz" and the theme is “The Luke 14 Mandate: Ministry, Missions, and Movement!” Be sure to add it to your calendar. Lisa will be presenting at least one or two workshops and exhibiting. For more information and to see workshops as they are scheduled see the web site. Joni Eareckson Tada will be a Keynote Speaker.

Don't Miss This Christian Movie on Marriage!

Lisa had the chance to see a sneak preview at the Christian retail show and Fireproof is... awesome! This Christian film debuts at 400 theaters Sept 26 and will only last the weekend unless we get out there to see it! If the numbers are good, they will keep it another week. It's a movie with a message about how we need God, but also one about just how messy marriage can get. Starring Kirk Cameron (like you've not seen him before) you will laugh, cry, and then do both at the same time. Lisa recommends it to anyone in a marriage (healthy or hurting) as well as those considering marriage and teens too.

There is something everyone can take away from it. Lisa is currently writing a review to post on our web site; she'll keep you posted. But mark the date on your calendar and then go to the Fireproof web site. If your neighborhood theater isn't listed, call them and ask them to show it! And if you want more marriage resources (like information on The Love Dare book featured in the film, visit www.fireproofmymarriage.com) A great resource for the public and professionals alike.

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Have you visited the new Rest Ministries web site yet?

Woman Finds She Needs Prayer and Friendship

Over the last 14 years I have slowly lost the use of both respiratory and joint function due to being on a medication called Prednisone for a long term treatment. Each year I have become more and more isolated as my physical functioning decreases. Currently I am in a wheel chair waiting for a complete knee replacement and only interact with close immediate family on a day to day basis.

One day while doing a web search for some online Bible studies I came across the Rest Ministries web site and I have "lurking" for about 6 months. The daily devotionals and testimonies of what others of you are dealing with continually has helped me not to feel so alone. I have decided to reach out at this time and make a "real people connection" so I can say thank you to all of you who share your hope and faith in the midst of your trials.

Our God is good and awesome, and I am grateful for the encouragement of brothers and sisters I will share His kingdom with one day.

Presently I am in real need of ...

> read more here

> Click here to submit your own story

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." Isaiah 43:2

Podcaster Shares the Word of God Despite Chronic Pain and... Being in Her 70's

After several falls, breaking both hips and moving to assisted living, Barbara Ingersoll , in her 70’s had given up hope of ever again having an active ministry. But God does work in mysterious ways. These days she is ministering to many more women than she ever thought possible through the aid of technology and without ever leaving the comfort and safety of her home. Her daughter, Bridgette Mongeon, in Houston, Texas, and her granddaughter Christina Diliberto, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, call her once a week to pull from her wisdom and share their own spiritual growth, recording each session in an online podcast called Inspirations- Generations and sharing it over the Internet with women all over the world. The Generations podcast can be found and downloaded for free from the God’s Word website at http://www.godsword.net . CD compilations of the Generations podcast are made available through the God’s Word website if net access is not available.

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Do you have an adult child living with you (or elsewhere) whose life has you tied up in knots?

Are their self-destructive choices, addictions and/or life-style breaking your heart and causing you (and perhaps other family members) pain and anguish? If so, help is on the way! Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children - Six Steps to Hope & Healing for Struggling Parents is a new book by Allison Bottke, author of the God Allows U-Turns series. It was released in February 2008 from Harvest House. It's an excellent book for moms and dads alike to read when you feel torn between wanting to rescue your adult children and keep them safe, and also wondering if it's the right thing for their lives! Allison is a friend of Lisa Copen's (founder of Rest Ministries) and Lisa personally recommends this book whole-heartedly. For support groups visit Sanity Support.

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Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities

With fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and more, it seems there is no place void of a possible disaster. So be prepared! This website, www.disability911.org, includes information which ILRU gathered during the months immediately following the storms and which has been gathered since then as part of our efforts to assist people with disabilities, their families, independent living centers and other organizations prepare for and respond to disasters which may affect people with disabilities. This Web site features televised interviews with disaster preparedness and emergency response officials, with people who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina, and with experts on issues pertaining to disaster preparedness and response. Links are provided to webcasts, books and newsletters, training materials, and other resources, which have been prepared to assist centers for independent living, public officials, emergency preparedness officials, and people with disabilities and their families. Book mark it!

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Essays from Women with Chronic Illnesses Sought

Leslie at Getting Closer to Myself is seeking submissions from women in their 20s and 30s who are living with chronic illness. Find out more specifics at her web site.

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Inspirational Message, Inspirational Man

Many of you have heard of Randy Pausch who was "made famous" from his video lecture "Achieving Your Childhood Dreams", taped at Carnegie Mellon as part of their "Last Lecture" series. His cancer diagnosis didn't dim his hope and optimism and his lecture brought millions to examine their own lives. Randy passed away on July 25, 2008, leaving a wife and young children behind.. Randy was also an "e-Patient," so you can read about his journey here if you wish. And here is New York Times "Well" Blog sharing more about his story.

> Have something silly to share?

People are always asking, "How can I help Rest Ministries?" With the internet, it's easy to help spread the word. With just a few of us working together to write a review someone or "Stumble Upon" an article, Rest Ministries can gain tons of exposure without having to spend a dime! We'll share a suggestion here each week, where if you can take a minute it will help us reach more people!

Get involved with Invisible Illness Awareness Week. Click here to sign up for our daily blog updates! View the blog.

Did you know we really need your prayers? In the last few months we've had volunteers who have suffered heart attacks, lost their home, lost a loved one, had additional illnesses diagnosed and more.

Our ministry is blessed, but at the same time we have computer crashes, administrative issues and all kinds of things that just remind us that though God is in control, the enemy desperately wants to slow us down! We have a great list of things you can pray for us about for 2008. Print it out here and stick it in your Bible or on your fridge, and remember us, okay? It's very appreciated!