Hi Friends,

I kept waiting for some words of wisdom or inspiration to hit me to write in my note today. Honestly, I am just tired. I awoke at 6 a.m. hearing my son cough, and so eventually got up at 6:30. He was fine and went off to school, but I've dragged through the day, finally laying down from 1:30 to 2, setting my alarm before picking Josh up at school.

Ever have some days you just want to crawl under the covers and ignore all the little responsibilities? For me it's not the big ones that take the time, but the little things add up.. Today for example, I took my empty toner cartridges to the school to donate for the PTA, figured out what to buy for a "sundae basket" to be auctioned off at the school, filled out Josh's Tae Kwon Do task sheet so he can get a star, had a friend over to play (not me... my son), answered about 50 emails, worked on the magazine, figured out tomorrow's radio program and my husband is getting dinner out of a can (clam chowder... hey, not so bad, right?). Writing about it makes me feel a bit better. Just like Claudette's interview last Tuesday, we all feel like we are not doing enough. Personally, I need to go back and listen to it myself!

I read this verse today and it seemed to give me reassurance:
"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

Isn't that a nice reminder that God will lead us (even when we cannot see) through new paths! I'm clinging to that one every time I feel in over my head!

I hope you enjoy this week's issue of HopeNotes and that you will join me tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. pacific for our radio show Hope Endures as we talk about all thing support groups!

God bless you and thank you for your daily encouragement!

Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Director and Founder

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

This week at Rest Ministries...

• We ordered more copies of Mosaic Moments, our devotional book, since we were sold out! To celebrate, we put it on sale. Buy the book Being Sick Well and get Mosiac Moments for free (for a limited time). It's a pre-order. Books will be available about April first. 2 books for $21 includes shipping - wow!
  
  
• We're planning to get a Christians with Chronic Illness or Pain "Blog Carnival" off the ground soon. Do you have a blog where you write about illness and your faith and would want to share 1 article/blog a month? Let us know! We're excited that we have a new volunteer who will be coordinating this (an answer to prayer!)
  
  
• Lisa participated in the How to Cope with Pain February Blog Carnival that posted this week. Find some great articles!
  
  
• We had a great podcast on Thursday talking about money and finances! Listen here.
  
  
• Claudette Palatsky joined us Tuesday morning for our radio show discussing when we feel guilty for not doing enough. Have a listen - you won't be sorry! It's one of our best!
  
  
• Lisa ordered some cute little notecards that say "Hope Endures." They will be in our store soon. And yes, we're still working on both the new store and HopeKeepers Magazine. Stay tuned!

Do You Want Illness Articles on Your Web Site?

Lisa now has a blog of just chronic illness articles that are free to reprint and also a "widget" of code you can put on your web site of just her articles about chronic illness. This replaces former code many people were having difficulty with. Click here to set it up.

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Read our Featured Sunroom Blog

Misplaced Anger by Steve Walden

Steve Walden shares how he has moments of anger about his illness. "Dealing with misplaced anger has been a part of my life, recently. It seems like I'm snapping at people for innocent remarks or ill-timed questions. I get angry over stuff that's frustrating but in a disproportionate way, like when..." > read more

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One of RM's Best Sales This Year!

Hi, I am just letting you know that God has performed some miraculous things in me over the past year. I have had the earnest desire to get better and God has healed me in many ways.

He has healed me so much physically, mentally and spiritually. I came from suicidal, depressed, anxiety ridden, angry, bitter, bulimic, and a smoker who was broken to the uttermost. God was performing a work in me, but I had to become broken to be reshaped.

I haven't been bulimic for almost a year, and I haven't smoked for five months now. I also have been released from my therapist and have returned to the same type of medication for PMDD as before. I worked in the prison 5 years ago. I was on 3 different medications to start with after I was hospitalized in the psych ward in Oct. 2007.

Now I am working part time only and getting to spend so much more time with my kids and reading my Bible and with my dogs and RESTING! I recently learned that believing is doing God's work and He is teaching me that I don't have to be working myself to death to serve Him - "His yoke is easy and His burden light."

I am truly blessed and I may not be wealthy in America's eyes but I have riches that go beyond any human understanding - in Christ. It is so great to have a place for Christians with depression and other mental health issues to go to to relate with others who understand.

It is such a misunderstood topic among Christians so in saying this, may God bless your ministry and bless you in it. Thanks so much! Lots of sister love and hugs.....always!

(name withheld)

> Click here to submit your own story

"Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer." Psalm 4:1

Children's Pain Poorly Understood

An ABC News article says, "When it comes to chronic pain, the issues and questions are different for children. Because children may have a harder time communicating, determining the cause of a child's pain can be difficult for doctors." To read more about treating kid's pain the influence a mom can have click here.

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Women: Oops! Is Your Blouse Too Low?

If you're trying to keep up with the fashions these days but are sick of the collars being too low and showing a bit too much, you may like this little fashion gadget called a Cleavage Cover. You may have recently caught this on the Today Show with Kathie Lee and Hoda

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Marriage Need a Boost?

Get a free chapter of the Bible study from The Love Dare journal featured in the movie and written by the creators of FIREPROOF. This eight-week study is based on Using Scripture, commentary, and provocative questions that inspire fiery group discussion, couples can return their marriages to the covenant relationships God intended them to be. Download it here. Listen to an audio message from Michael Catt, co-writer of FIREPROOF.

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Looking for Healthy Food Choices for Your Family?

Even if your kids aren't at home anymore, check out Healthy Moms, Healthy Families where you will find recipes and all kinds of Christian encouragement. Founder, Connie Bendickson says, "It's been nearly ten years since my family began learning about and transitioning from the standard American fast-food diet to healthy, whole, plant-based foods that God created for the purpose of nourishing our bodies. While it may not be easy in our fast food culture to break away from the pattern of this world, it is definitely possible and it is definitely worth it."

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Freebie Fridays at
Today's Christian Woman

Last week this weekly newsletter offered a free chapter from Sheila Walsh's new book Let Go on the TCW Editors' Blog. It may still be available, but you can check back every Friday for a free book chapter, song download, or Bible study!

"Thank you so much for this article. While I understand support groups can be highly beneficial, I've often felt they are sometimes forced upon those who really don't feel drawn to them. I had attended a few in the past and felt that I must be an outsider to feel so unattached, but your eight reasons explained my independence more than I understood it."

Even as a biblical counselor and minister, I greatly benefited from listening to this program. It is always helpful to hear words of truth from transparent people who are doing all they can to be more like Jesus. Very encouraging and enjoyable! Thanks!

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!

Encourage our Devotional Writers!

We have a new blog where all of our devotions are posted each day. By posting a comment after any devotional, you are encouraging both our writers and all the other readers who come and visit the web site and know they are not alone.

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!