The new year is nearly here and as many of you
do, I have been reflecting on my own life, my
ministry, and my family. To be honest with you,
I am simply burned out and exhausted -- physically
and spiritually --due to trying to keep up with
everything in my life and not actually enjoying
any of it to the extent that God desires.
I have been reading some wonderful books including
"Leading
on Empty: Refilling Your Tank and Renewing Your
Passion" by Wayne Cordeiro. Ironically,
he explains that this feeling/phase will typically
hit every seven years. Rest Ministries began in
1996, so,the good news is, I guess I am right
on schedule.
When the Lord created a calling in my heart for
ministry that serves those with chronic illness
in the early 90s, I had no idea how much I would
be blessed by it and how it would become a
part of who I am. I got my first computer
in 1996 and started a web site, not really knowing
what I was doing. People came to it, connected,
and desired more. And since then groups such as
Share and Prayer and our daily devotionals have
fed people daily.
As much as technology has changed, we have continued
to try our best to keep up too!
I have seen many of my dreams come true such
as having a HopeKeepers
magazine. Other dreams have not materialized
such as having a retreat or conference. For the
last year I have carefully been considering what
direction the Lord would like to take Rest Ministries.
I knew He wanted more than for me to just delete
spam and flounder around.
I have also entered a new season with my rheumatoid
arthritis. This is the fist year in many that
I've not flown anywhere, spoken, or exhibited
for the ministry. I had to cancel plans to go
to my women's leadership retreat because of finances
and health issues and this is where I always get
"refilled."
As my own personal health continues to decline,
I must take my own abilities and limitations into
consideration. God is not surprised b any of this
and He could heal me if He so desired. Instead,
He wants me to look at my abilities (and inabilities)
and seek His will for the ministry with them in
mind.
Regarding the ministry, the only immediate
change is how you will start to receive daily
devotionals. We will be moving them from Yahoogroups
to another service so watch for news on how
to confirm your subscription to them.
But for the next few weeks, you will not see
any changes immediately, as I am still reading,
and praying, and seeking advice from mentors.
I am, however, looking back at what my original
calling was from the Lord and why I began Rest
Ministries: to encourage and equip.
- To encourage those who live a chronic
illness. To walk alongside Christians who
are dealing with chronic conditions and take
them from a place of depression to discipleship.
And to encourage those who do not know Christ
that life can still be a joyful experience despite
their diagnosis of a chronic illness, by introducing
them to our Lord.
- And to equip the church body with tools
to help them more effectively reach out to those
who live with chronic illness.
I will be rebuilding our Board of Directors,
as each individual on it has gone through significant
suffering and some have also lost their passion.
One family is dealing with the death of an adult
child due to suicide, another man our Board of
Directors passed away this last year of cystic
fibrosis.
It may be a new season for my body and illness,
but it can also be a wonderful, exciting new season
for Rest Ministries.
The things I love the most are to write and speak,
and they are the two things that have been pushed
aside for great deal of time while I simply have
tried to keep up with the busy-work.
And as I have been reading books about ministry
and mentoring, etc., I can feel God stirring my
hunger again to go back to what was His original
calling.
One of the things that I must do in order to
continue to be able to "do ministry"
is to have a computer that works well, and works
well for me. After much research and I would like
to purchase the HP
Touchscreen.
My hand therapist says I will never be able to
type much again with my left hand or all the tendons
will fall back into the place they were previously.
As of yesterday, my range of motion is barely
half of what the surgeon and therapist had hoped
for. Though I am pleased with the surgery giving
me the use of fingers that will work again, typing
is not one of those skills I will be able to return
to and my right hand only has an index finger
that I type with. Stress of using the mouse -
and the fact that it is just a matter of time
before having surgery on the right hand, have
forced me to look at my options with technology.
With the Touchscreen, I will be able to vary
the tension on my hands between the screen and
the mouse, and it will also be a bigger, better
computer that will work more effectively with
my voice recognition program. (I have the software,
but it takes about three times as long than as
if I had typed it.) My computer is over 5 years
old and slowing daily tasks down a great deal.
The computer monitor screen itself on the Touchscreen,
is also large and shiny-- much easier to see for
me, as my cataracts have surrounded my retina
"bull's-eye" according to the doctor.
I see big white spots most of the time and am
having increased difficulty reading. I will be
having cataract surgery on at least one eye and
in the new year as soon as my hand has healed
and I see what exactly insurance will cover.
I know that finances are difficult for everyone
right now. However, if you all are in the position
where you are giving year-end donations, please
remember Rest Ministries in your gifts. You
can also send a check by December 31, 2009 if
you'd like it to count toward your 2009 donations.
It just needs dated by the post office by 12/31/2009.
The computer, updated software, etc. will cost
about $1500 and this is where I'd like to put
the 2009 year end donations. As you may know I
don't receive any salary and donate all of my
book sales to the ministry to keep it going. So,
I know it can sound like a splurge, but for me,
it's become a necessity.
Thank you so much for all the prayers that you
pray for Rest Ministries. Many of you email me
and say, "I pray for RM every day."
It is because of you we still exist and are touching
lives daily. Many of you also volunteer so
much of your time to Rest Ministries. Those numbers
at the top of this note would not be possible
without you! From the bottom of my heart, THANK
YOU!
Much love,
Lisa Copen
Rest Ministries Founder
