When Leanne penned a note to her daughter’s coach that day, she had no idea it would make such a huge difference in Jill Beran’s life. She didn’t know Jill was at her lowest point, where doubt and loneliness had lead her into deep depression.
With just the right words, God spoke courage and hope into Jill’s heart, through Leanne.
At just the right time, He reached through the darkness and touched Jill’s life, through Leanne.
The night Jill came home, her depression had turned to despair. And then Leann’s note fell out of Jill’s journal. Simple words of appreciation brought hope into the darkness. Someone saw something in Jill that she couldn’t see in herself. Someone believed her life was worth living.
Leanne’s simple words helped changed the course of Jill’s life. But, as I shared in my devotion today, that’s just the beginning of their story. You can read the rest of it in their book Letters from Leanne. Today, I asked them to share more with us about it:
Tell us a little about the book: Letters from Leanne is the story of our friendship over the last ten years and how God has worked through it . We share the joys and trials we’ve encountered on our walk of faith, but ultimately how we saw God’s hand in every situation.
Jill, why did you write this book? Initially, I wanted to thank Leanne. I’d been blessed by her perspective as a mom, her acceptance as a friend, her guidance as an older woman and especially the love she poured out as a Christian. But it isn’t just a thank you to Leanne; it’s a thank you to God. Our friendship has been and still is a gift. I pray by reading our story, women will be encouraged to build similar relationships in their lives.
What do you hope readers will gain? We pray women will be encouraged in their faith and inspired to find or be a mentor. We share how mentoring is not about having all the answers, but simply sharing your life with someone. We give you a look at a specific spiritual mentoring relationship and take you on the journey of how our’s grew.
We’ve also included questions in each chapter to help women apply what we share to their personal lives. Women are encouraged to slow down and take a look at their own lives and find lessons in the letters.
To find out more about Letters from Leanne, visit Amazon. And if you’d like to connect with Jill you can visit her blog.
Encouraging Words Gift Pack
A copy of Letters from Leanne
A $5 Starbucks gift card
A pack of pretty cards
A notepad to give away
20 verses to personalize and send to a friend*********************************
- Leave your name and email typed out (your name at email provider dot com).
- List one person you’re going to encourage this week and how you’re going to do it.
- List your favorite “encouraging” verse if you have one.
Be sure to come back Wednesday for a video blog chat with my friend, author and speaker, Jennifer Rothschild. She’s shares great insights as we talk about the power of words! Also, I’ll be sharing about new make-up I discovered that I call my “magic eraser.” We used it to cover Jennifer’s black eye. More about that Weds. You might even win some along with two of her amazing books and another gift card!
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Hi, Sorry about your post… I've been there and know how you feel.
mommy22ss at me dot com
I will be encouraging my children and my husband this week (and always) and my Kids Praise Choir kids.
My favorite verse is , "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
dcfdaniel at alaska dot com
I will be encouraging my friend who's husband is out of town and she and all 5 kids are sick…YIKES!
Verse: And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19
My email: asieck at yaley dot com
I will be encouraging a friend of mine who is embarking on a new career. I will be sending her a note letting her know how encouraging she is to me and that I will be praying for her and will be there for her anytime.
My favorite scripture for encouragement is:
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Renee,
I'm sorry you lost your post!
I will actually be encouraging 15-20 women on Saturday as I teach a seminar I've titled "Through God's Eyes." My favorite verse (right now) is the theme of Saturday's seminar: "The King is enthralled with your beauty."
edwina(dot)cowgill(at)yahoo(dot)com
Shelly
shellymelissaj21 at gmail dot com
I will encourage my mom because she has always encouraged me 🙂
Hi Renee,
My email address is [email protected]
I will be encouraging my daughter-in-law this week about some family things she is going through, as well as my husband with his job.
My favorite scripture on encouragement is: Proverbs 31:26, the Living Bible version:
"When she speaks, her words are wise, and kindness is the rule for everything she says."
This is my first time reading your blog. I'm sorry you lost your post, BTDT. I plan to read your past blogs so I can know you better.
gramma09 at mymts dot net
The 23rd psalm is one of my favourite scriptures.
I will be encouraging my weight loss group this afternoon.
[email protected]
Encouraging a woman (Annie) that I am taking to a Celebrate Recovery Meeting tonight. The FIRST step in recovery.
Beauty for Ashes, Oil of joy for mourning….!
Thanks Renee,
dhthompson at bellsouth dot net.
I am encouraging my son who is unemployed and having a rough time. One of my favorite scriptures is Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. So powerful.
Darlene
While my blog is not as important as yours is, I do get frustrated when I find just the right words to express how I feel and then…BAH! No save!
charitysweeks at gmail dot com
Today I have had a dear friend on my mind and have been praying for her and will be sending her a text soon. My favorite verse: Isaiah 41:10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
It was so God this morning. Before I read your blog I had this lady on my heart and thought about sending her an email to encourage her and let her know that I was thinking about her and how she was a blessing to me. After I read your post I went straight to my email and sent her an encouraging message.
One of my favoite verses is:
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart,and lean not on your own understanding,in all of your was acknowledge Him,and He will make your paths straight.Proverbs 3:5-6.
[email protected]
Definitely agree "technology is wonderful when it works"!
email:
cw4jesus at hotmail dot com
I hope to be able to encourage a sister in Christ this evening. She FBd me a struggle she is encountering as a middle-aged single woman in relationships. I, too, am single and middle-aged and hope that my experiences in relationships can help me share some God-wisdom with her.
"The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you, He will be with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, do not be afraid" Deut 31:8.
How comforting to know God not only walks beside me but He has already walked the path we are on!
CJW
Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.
A friend lost her son about this time last year. It's time for a call to her.
[email protected]
Renee, Thank you for writing this today. I would love to encourage my younger sister. She is a beautiful single woman facing many gaints in this season of her life. And like your friend, she too struggles with purpose. I try to up lift her but unnderstand that our great God is the only one that can offer true hope. I will keep it up. Thank you for all you do.
Zep. 3:17
Hi ~
I will be doing my best to encourage my son as he is now without a job (which means he ahd to move home) AND his girlfriend broke up with him all at the same time. He is feeling so discouraged, lost and useless.
jana
[email protected]
Thank you for your words. It encouraged me to write and call a friend this morning whose husband of 25+years left her 2 weeks ago. I will keep encouraging her. my email is [email protected]
Annetta Hindman
e-mail [email protected]
I will enourage my dear friend Lisa
1 of my favorite verses on encouragement is:
'He who has begun a good work in you will complete it." Phil. 1:6 NKJV
Good job on choosing to go to sleep and trust God… that's a hard one for me too!
My email is: moirae21 at yahoo dot com
And I will be encouraging my 6 yr old daughter today, she has seen and been through some things lately that children shouldn't have to see so I try to focus on planting truth in her the best I can.
When I am feeling like I'm running into a brick wall and cannot seem to find my way, this favorite scripture encourages me to keep putting God first because everything else will fall into place:
Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart!
There's so much more to this verse than meets the eye… it gives me so much hope and strength.
Thank you for your post today. *I* was one of those readers who needed that encouragement myself!
I will be encouraging a coworker as she and her family deal with her daughter's diagnosis of Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma.
Favorite encouraging verse: Romans 8:28 — For we know all things work for good for those who believe in Him.
Thanks again!
Amy
ackrance at gmail dot com
Ugh – I've lost a whole post before, and it is so frustrating! So sorry that happened to you!
valerie dot post at yahoo dot com
You know, I really need to encourage myself in the Lord this week. This is such a HARD, STRESSFUL week for me, jam packed with what feels like 400 things that MUST be done, and not nearly enough time to do them. I'm feeling so overwhelmed and discouraged.
My favorite verse of encouragement is Isaiah 41:13 "For I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not be afraid, I will help you.'" Oh God, thank you so much….