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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My name is Debbie Dinderman. I am going to encourage Rachel Haney this week.
"Let the words of my mouth and meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer" Ps. 19:14
Michelle Hudson
[email protected]
I am going to encourage one of my co-workers by speaking words of encouragement to her each morning this week and praising her for what a good job she is doing.
"If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant." Job 36:11 (NLT)
[email protected]
Favorite verse is Proverbs 31
Just started your Crave class and am already encouraged
Dina Bowman
Email is [email protected]
Dawn in my bible study group – going through hard time – recent loss of father and issues surrounding that. Going to give her a book that helped me and see about connecting with her for coffee.
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 from the Message – Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.
That fuels me…… I am encouraged and energized.
Have a blessed day.
Jane Hixson
Renee,
Thank you for your kindness. If it is not too late.
my name is jennifer and email is __________________
Because of you blog , I reached out to a friend this morning whose husband of twenty plus years left her, with a call and a note. I encouraged her with Jeremiah 29:11. I will keep writing to her this week.
Christina Pedigo
I encouraged Mercedes Hedrick.. a youth in our church! She dislikes going to school and I had a talk with her and she says I encouraged her to go everyday.
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged” (Matthew 7:1).
I want to be your Encourager, a voice that cheers you on to believe that God is who he says he is and that walking in his ways will prosper your soul.
Hi Renee…
Thank you so much for your great stories and I love getting devotionals daily from Proverbs 31!
I have began my week on Sunday encouraging my friend.
James 1:2-3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
God Bless and have a great day!
Denise
Tuesday February 8, 2011
Dearest Renee Swope, Proverbs31 Ministry,
My name is Jill and I have been praying about applying to an assistant coaching position at my son’s high school and I felt God nudging when I was reading that the person’s name is Jill and she is a coach in your Devotion this morning. As a Christian, I know that these types of things are not just a coincidence because God can use you to connect with me. You wrote at the end of your devotion about encouraging others and if we had an encouraging verse.
My encouraging verses are in Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”
You also wrote something about winning today’s give-away, so, how do I enter?
Thank you so much for sharing with the other writers from the Proverbs31 Ministry and I have enjoyed receiving my weekly emails from Chritianity.com Encouragement for Today.
God Bless you,
Jill
[email protected]
I plan to encourage my husband who is laid off.
1 peter 5:7
Hi. I sent a ( encouraging) e-mail message to someone in need.
One of my favorite verses..
Psalm 107: 1 “O Give Thanks unto the Lord for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Kimberly
This is my entry for the drawing. 5people that I want to encourage this week-Mike,Drew,Sarah,Will and Jill.
Peace,
Susan
I NEED TO HAVE ENCOURAGING VERSE BECAUSE MOUTH RUNS TOO MUCH ABOUT GETTING OTHERS DOWN. ANY SUGGESTIONS. I KNOW BETTER BUT I DON'T DO BETTER.
I WILL ENCOURAGE MY CLOSEST (DISTANCE) TO ME BEST FRIEND . EMMA HER HUSBAND IS HAVING HIS 2ND KNEE REPLACEMENT
THIS AM. I WILL SENT THEM E CARDS TO THE HOSPITAL. WHEN I GET TO TALK TO HER I WILL ENCOURAGE IN WORDS. WHEN I SEE HER I WILL GIVE A BIG HUG. PROBABLY MAKE A MEAL FOR THEM. THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH ME. Kay Parrish
-One of my favorite encouraging verses is Jeremiah 29:11
-I will be encouraging my very best friend, who is dealing with marital issues
-rmbothe(at)comcast(dot)net
I will be encouraging my friend who lost her Father not too long ago. I will be sending her a Christian fiction book about China, where her family is originally from.
Matt. 28:20- second half, and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Nothing more encouraging than that!
svrmomof6 (at) gmail (dot) com
I am focusing my encouragement on my third child (of six) for the remainder of this week. His step dad has not been too kind to him lately.
Jeremiah 29:11 – 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'
Name: Marla Y
Email: [email protected]
I will be encouraging my son as he prepares himself for the upcoming State wrestling tournament in Iowa.
My encouraging Scripture is:
Isaiah 41:10 – "Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed; I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with My victorious right hand."
This Scripture has gotten me through many fearful and trying times.
Thank you for the chance to win your giveaway. God bless and have a wonderful blessed day!
Marla 🙂
Vanessa Joy Morton
[email protected]
I will be encouragingone of my good friends who is going through a very rough time right now. she is going through a divorce and feels useless through her business she runs. she quit her business because of what she is going through and doesnt know what to do or if she will ever find love again.
A favorite encouraging verse of mine which i will share is, "The lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17.
rose mortimer
[email protected]
i will be encouraging my son with his drug addiction in getting some help.
my favorite scripture is do not worry about tomorrow in matthew
i love reading your devotionals. May God Bless You and thank you.
Jen
jensamplec21 at hotmail dot com
I will encourage my brother with words as he's struggling to find his way in life and fighting against past mistakes.
Jeremiah 29:11
[email protected]
I will be encouraging my friend Cathey who has been unemployed for 10 months.
My favorite verse
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5