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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Danette
danetteh07 at gmail dot com
I will be encouraging my friend Lisa who is on the Made to Crave journey with me. I'll do that by giving her scriptures daily, praying for her and holding her accountable (we are accountability partners).
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…You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13
townsendbjzb at century link dot net
I am going to send a card to two friends in our church. One has 10 month old twin girls (I can't imagine the stress of two at once) and the other has recently taken over the bulletin and prayer list. I want them to know I think they are doing an awesome job!
This isn't a favorite scripture, but at the first of the year we started 'Goodnight Warrior' devotions with our 6 year old and they have been such an encouragement to me as well!
How frustrating…
leitha03 at yahoo dot com
My friend Chanda who is a mother of three battling some big demons.
My fav ver of the bible: Romans Chapter 8
He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved. Psalm 62:6
I will be encouraging my husband in finding faith.
lcraddockrn at gmail dot com
I'll be encouraging my 3 children as we continue our homeschool adventures. They're all learning some new things this week that are proving to be a challenge!
LOVE Proverbs 3:5-6
denise at lci-lineberger dot com
I will be encouraging my co-worker who is having family problems. I will let her know she is not alone, and she has friends that care about her.
My favorite encouraging verse is one that I see in Karen Kingsbury books, Jeremiah 29:11.
Thank you for your encouragement and letting the Lord use you to inspire others.
[email protected]
I will be encouraging a friend who is struggling with her job right now.
My favorite encouraging scripture is: "I am the Lord, thy God. Is anything to hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27
lorinicholson at triad dot rr dot com
I will encourage my friend Janet, who is a wonderful godly leader.
I love in Zephaniah where the prophet says "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."
Laura – lmhicks at gwtc dot net
Going to be encouraging my sister.
Phillipians 4:13
Going to encourage my friend who has loved on our family a great deal during some rough times. winsomsouls at gmail dot com. Melissa
I love your devotion, Renee'. This very thing happened to me recently. I shared a word with a friend, whose little girl passed away last year (6 years old), because I felt a nudge from the Lord to encourage her. She told me a two weeks later that she had seriously considered suicide even taking measure to carry out the act, but the word I spoke to her came back to her. When she remembered the word, her heart was strengthened and she did not go through with it. I had no idea that she might even think of doing that! Her testimony of the Lord using those few words to stop her brought me to my knees. I am so grateful that He stopped her.
One of my very favorite verses to encourage with is Psalm 5:3 NIV "In the morning, O Lord, you will hear my voice; In the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
Thank you for your faithfulness to the Lord. There is a ripple down affect and it reaches far.
Blessings!
Cheri
cheribunch at gmail dot com
Thanks for words of encouragement to encourage. 🙂 A couple of girlfriends' names came up, one struggling with cancer, another whose husband is out of work and a child struggling to find purpose, my own sons who need reminding that they are men of God.
jarich at hotmail dot com
I'm claiming Jer 29:11,too.
kthompson dot sdhsband at gmail dot com
I will be encouraging my husband, who struggles with worry. The Lord WILL provide, just what we need.
Matthew 6:34- Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
And of course, my all time favorite that applies to EVERYTHING-
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.
I'm sorry that you lost your post, I can't stand when that happens!
I will encourage my husband today as he is the one taking care of the kids all day long and searching for a job.
I don't have a favorite scripture…yet. I am a new believer and am still in the learning process of reading and understanding the bible.
I will say that I like the scripture that Mama posted.
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."
That speaks to me in so many ways. Thank you!
brandiecolbert at yahoo dot com
My email is katie rose evans at yahoo dot com
I plan to send my friend Angie an encouraging card to tell her how much I appreciate her.
My favorite verse of all time is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you , says the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
lmorr613 at hotmail dot com
I am going to write an encouraging e-mail to a mom at church who has young ones and is down sick. Will also check with her to see that she is not lacking anything. Also, will be working on encouraging my husband with words and notes.
Just one Scripture is hard to do but Ps. 103:12 encourages me b/c it tells me I am forgiven: As far as the east is from the west so far hath he removed our [my] transgressions from me!
Thanks!
Tamara
[email protected]
I quickly used two verses to encourage my friend who recently lost her mother (I Peter 2:9) and has been in a really dark place as well as friend who is going to court today to fight for custody of her children (Rom 8:37). Thank you so much for this devotion. It touched my heart and I am hoping that I am able to touch theirs.
Email: sara020608 at yahoo dot com
I will be encouraging my best friend who's struggling with finding God's will in her life.
katie rose evans at yahoo dot com
Going to send my friend Angie a card to encourage her and tell her I love her.
My favorite encouraging verse is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans that I have for you, says the Lord, Plans to prosper and not to harm you, to give you hope future and a future."
That verse has helped encourage me and keep me going through the hardes times in my life!!
God Bless you Renee!
What a blessing your post on encouragement was! It came at just the right time for me.
amybhamner at gmail dot com
I am praying for and encouraging my husband. He is having to deal with a stressful situation at work with someone who is his coworker and friend. We are praying for his friend to turn around and make wise decisions.
The verse that speaks to me most is:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine….you are precious and honored in my sight, and I love you." Isaiah 43:1, 4 (NIV)
Thank you so much for the encouragement!