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!
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….
chris_chicky at yahoo dot com
I have a role reversal…..a great friend of mine encourages me all of the time. If I have a problem, she is there for me with just the right words to say.
Through her, I have learned forgiveness and grace. I will be encouraging myself to be stronger in this life and know that God is there for me.
‘Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ Isaiah 41:10
jen6122 at hotmail dot com
I am going to encourage my husband. He lost his job at the beginning of this year and is still trying to figure out what to do.
My favorite encouraging verse is Luke 12:32- “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”
-Jennifer
I plan to encourage my prayer partner in Bible Study, as well as others that cross my path this week. Just last night we were discussing things we struggle with and the small group that I was in had many trials & many of them are on my mind as well.
benpip at yahoo dot com
When thou passeth through the water I will be with thee, and through the rivers they will not overflow thee, and when thou walkest through the fire thou shalt not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2
Gotta love technology 🙂 Glad you were able to recover it!
Sue ([email protected])
I will be encouraging my husband as he is overtired and as he said this morning "without spirit"
My favorite scripture is "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." Proverbs 3:5-6
I encourage my big sister who had back fusion surgery recently and also has a grown(30) son with mental illness who is dependent on her and her husband.
My favorite encouraging verse is:
For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope. Jer 29:11
Sorry you lost your post Renee. Technology can be so frustrating sometimes! My email is [email protected]. I will be encouraging my daughter this week. One of my favorite verses is I Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Sometimes it's hard to feel joyful but but I have found that just by whispering "thank you" to Jesus my attitude can change.
Susan Southerland
My email is suzy underscore south at hotmail dot com
I will be encouraging a friend who is 23 and pregnant for the first time, struggling in her marriage, and desiring to grow in the Lord and working hard towards that goal.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) "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."
Rachel: hoek73 at yahoo dot com
I will encourage Cara.
My favorite encouraging scripture is actually from your Proverbs 31 devotion: Ephesians 2:10.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (NIV)
Clearissa Poston
[email protected]
I will be encouraging my friend Mia this week. She's not feeling positive about her weight loss effort and I know she can do this.
Myu favorite scripture that relates to this endeavor is "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."Philippians 4:13
savannah at [email protected]
I will encourage my husband as times are financially tough for us and we are expecting the birth of our 4th child in two weeks.
One of my many favorite encourageing scriptures is psalm 121:2
My help comes from the Lord , who made heaven and earth !!!
Thank you so much for all you share!
mayer4 at bresnan dot net
I am and will continue to encourage my dad. He has accepted the Lord as his saviour and the Holy Spirit is stirring in him like crazy and I cannot even tell you the joy this brings me!
One of my favorite scriptures is:
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.
Proverbs 12:25
I will be encouraging my step-daughter away at college. I visited with her last night after work and sent her an email today.
My favorite encouraging scripture is:
Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. and the peace of god, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4: 6-7
fantprestonL at att dot net
[email protected]
I will encourage my Aunt that lost her husband a year ago this week. She misses him very much as they were very close.
ONE of my favorite verses is "Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you. 1Peter 5:7
CAST – throw out , get it away from us – He wants our cares, what a comfort..
I have been thinking a lot lately about the power of words to crush or encourage. It is not insignificant that Jesus Himself was named the Word. Your devotional has encouraged me to use the power of Jesus Christ that we ALL have been given through the gift of speech and/or writing. I pray I can model this for my kids more than I have.
One of my favorite encouraging verses: Romans 8:31 If God be for us, who can be against us?
SAVANNAH AT [email protected]
I will encourage my husband this week! We are about to expect our 4th child in about 2 weeks and things are financially hard.
One of my favorite encouraging scriptures is psalm 121:2
My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth !!!!
How I needed this post!! Thank you, Renee. My email is danawade at hotmail dot com. When you asked for an encouraging verse my first thought was Jeremiah 29:11. Even though I've lived more than half my life, this verse still makes me feel like I have a good future. I hope to encourage my son this week. He is an alcoholic and he needs some encouragement and assurance that God loves him and performs millions of miracles each and everyday. One day this week might be just the day for my son's miracle.
Love in Christ,
Dana
Hello Renee – this is my first time to ever do this!
leanne dot laviolette at la dot gov
I will encourage my precious husband this week. He is starting a huge new project at work and is doubting his ability to handle it all. He has done even larger projects in the past but it's been over a year since being in charge of something of this magnitude.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you sayeth the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future!
I loved your proverbs 31 devotion this week. It hit me when I was really needing encouragment.
I will be encouraging my friend Carolyn through a phone call.
My favorite verse is Hebrews 12:1-3
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
my email is grahls at sbcglobal dot net.
Thanks,
Molly
cjcharger98ataoldotcom
I encourage people by sending cards, usually in the mail. i have been encouraging a friend lately by leaving a card on their windshield while they are working. I write a little note inside and maybe a verse that comes to mind and say a prayer before sending it to them.
grosesix at tds dot net
I will be encouraging my oldest son who has an injury that is preventing him from playing violin (his primary instrument for 14 years) to trust God and to find his value in the Lord not in his abilities.
Proverbs 3:5
Hi Renee
I just found your blog today, this morning, through the Proverbs31 ministries email devotional. I am so encouraged by your words of encouragement. Thank you.
My name is Karen
knason4 at gmail dot com
My favorite verse for encouragement is
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding,
but
in ALL your ways acknowledge Him and He WILL direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5,6
Tammy
tammy at 1abc dot net
I will be encouraging a dear friend who's husband just lost his job.
I have several that I love, but for her I like: Hebrews 10:23
"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for God who promised is FAITHFUL!"
Hi Renee,
My name is Hazel Gray.
I the devotionals from Proverbs 31 everyday and most of the time I feel like they are meant for me. While other times it makes me thing of something a friend is going through so I will forward it on to them.
I would also like to say to the stay at home mom, hang in there, don't give up. I am a working mom and I go through the same struggles because I often wish I could be a stay-at-home mom. However, I feel like I am at the point where God wants me to be right now.
One way my friends and I encourage each other is through texting. We like to text each other prayers and verses.
One prayer I often go back to is this one: "Dear Lord, help me to see and quiet my critical striving spirit today and greatfully accept who I am and where I am at this moment, for you are here ready to invisibly empower my life to count for plenty right where I am. Help me also to seek and hold Your definition of plenty-nothing more, nothing less."
I plan encourage both of my children today as my son has his first basketball game today and my daughter is having a tought time in school.
My favorite verse is Deuteronomy 33:12 because I can close my eyes and picture myself sitting on the lap of Jesus with my head on his chest and his arms wrapped around me and I feel safe.
"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders."
my email is
hazel dot gray at martinmlp dot com
hlsisme at aol dot com
Trust in the Lord and Lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and and he shall direct your path.
Proverbs 3:5&6
I love this verse as it reminds me that I can not be encouraging or anything without trusting and relying on Him.
I need to be encouraging to my husband a pastor who has many heartaches and my daughter who is 8 and has a very poor self esteem. I will encourage my husband by reminding him how much God loves Him and my daughter by loving her and expressing how important she is to me and God.
Holly
My email is : [email protected]
I will be encouraging a young Mom in my Bible Study group that I lead. Her husband lost his job last week and she is suffering from pain in her back,headaches and depression.
My favorite scripture is: Isiah 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
Lutteach at aol dot com
I want to encourage my daughter today. She is a missionary in Moscow and is suffering with CFS.
I'm reminded today of Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
I agree with Veronica, I dislike when things like that happen and lately they seem to be happening quite often for me too! 🙂 However, I have been learning to pause and wait because there is a reason somewhere even in the computer world! 🙂 I had a difficult time picking just one favorite however, Isaiah 43:2-3a – seems to be the one I am standing most often just now. It says: "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shalt not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior … At the beginning of tax season this year I had a call from a young lady that desperately needed encouragement and that verse is the one I used to encourage her. She said that it was helpful and was glad that I took the time to help her. I asked if I could check back with her later in the week and she said that she would appreciate that. I am blessed that the person I "volunteer" for is also my pastor. Every day we pray with people and encourage them if needed. This day I will be encouraging one of the ladies in our church who has asked me to study the bible with her. As well as anyone I come in contact with that needs it today.
My email is [email protected]
Blessings,
[email protected]
I will be encouraging a friends daughter who is a coach. I want to share with her just how far encouraging can go. She is also struggling with gender issues herself and I want her to know that God loves her no matter what and that through him she can do anything.
My favorite scripture is "For I know the plans I have for you" Jeremiah 29:11 Thank you so much for sharing.
trmphillips at yahoo dot com
I am going to encourage the ladies in my community group at church. I am also going to be encouraging my husband in some things going on in his job. And since I have two little ones, I will be pouring encouragement into them and loving them more and more!
I think my 'favorite' verse changes with things going on in my life, but I think one that is applicable and needs to be EVER-present is that I need to: "Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own." (Msg) and another that seems to be coming up a lot is "Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life." -Pro 4:23
Thank you for this opportunity.
dd dot turner at comcast dot net
Thanks for the great thoughts on encouragement. I love sending notes to people and get frustrated when I do not follow through when I think of someone who may need a card in the mail to encourage them. I am sending several cards out today…the 6 gals I teach in my high school bible study group, a young man from our church serving in Greenland, my pastor and his wife.
Luke 12:6-7
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.