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!
Amy Thomas
[email protected]
Actually there are two, both friends, one who lives out of her car, but is always helping others, and ends up neglecting her own needs – so I am trying to encourage and help her to get the help she needs and help her find ways of helping the other people she is helping to cut down on what she is doing so she can slow down. Also another friend who is battling drugs, but wants to quit, so trying to encourage him and found him some NA meetings, and of course praying for them always.
As for favorite verse, that's tricky,I don't have one favorite one, but in our bible study on fruits of the spirit I did find this one last week and really took it to heart:
Romans 12:8 If your gift is to encourage others, do it! If you have money, share it generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
I found you through encouragement for today and am very glad I did, Thank you for what you do. Sorry this post is so long
nickie_reagan at hotmail dot com
I am going to encourage my daughter this week, she has had the flu for a few days now and has felt pretty crummy. We are going to have a girls night and she loves her hair curled so it's a good time to spoil her, take her out to eat and then watch a movie. I Spending quality time with her, so it will also encourage me. Hopefull that will lift her spirits.
My favorite verse is Philiipans 4:13. I try to hide it deep in my heart no matter what the situatuon might be. Have a blessed day.
Nickie
Twice a week I encourage 6 first and second grade girls not only to become better basketball players but to also develop a better relationship with Christ.
My go to scripture is Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"
Have a blessed day!!!
Sara
sara_kruse84 at hotmail dot com
[email protected]
Favorite Scripture:
"I have chosen you and have not rejected you. 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." Is 41:9-10
I will be encouraging myself with God's promises and my 33 year old daughter who is coping with deep emotional pain.
Mary Rodarte/[email protected]
I will be encouraging my sister who is going through some tough times with family situations. It seems one thing after another becomes a road block into moving forward, but with each setback, there is a purpose we are given the challenges and with God's strength, we will always prevail and be able to move forward.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Renee,
I just read your site and appreciate the opportunity!
Commit your work to the Lord and your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 16:3
This verse has encouraged me to let go of the stress of doing everything just right and accept that the Lord is in control and trust that He will give me the ideas and words that I need to work with young teens, administration, and other teachers. Also, at home with my family. When I do this, I get immediate results! It all goes back to ( fear not for I am with you) and (I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me).
Thanks for the invitation to do this!
Susanne Mahin [email protected]
Renea Salyer at [email protected]
I will encourage a fellow board member who has recently lost her job by email notes and a visit.
My favorite verse is: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13
Thank you!
Renea Salyer
Renee, sorry I just posted anonymously for the giveaway mentioned from today's devo. I forgot to list my email. I don't have a google account or blog and don't usually like to "put my email" out there and forgot. It is [email protected] if this counts. Sorry. (Posting on Matt. 6:33 being my favorite verse.)
Blessings,
Donna
Hi, Renee,
I would like to enter your contest. My name is Cheryl Smith, and I am a pastor. I truly hope to encourage several this week, but one person in particular I plan to reach out to with the just the right words, is my friend, Marie. My favorite verse for encouragement and comfort is Isaiah 41:10: "Fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee, yea, I will help thee, yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." God gave me that Scripture when I was facing a very challenging situation in my life, and it has been a great comfort to me many times since. I have shared it with many others along the way. Thank you for listening, and may God bless you and your ministry for Him, Renee!
In Christ,
Cheryl Smith
People do not care how much you know, until they know how much you care.
MY NAME: GINA MOSHER
EMAIL: [email protected]
I will be encouraging Jasmine this week. You see, I am a Housemom for a Girls Home. Jasmine is our newest "daughter". She is an amazingly beautiful girl, but has only been "loved" for her looks. She has been with us now for two months and her family has not called her even once.
Jasmine has so much potential, yet she is 16 and still in the ninth grade, because no one cared if she went to school or not. I plan to share more with her this week on how the Lord sees her and how I see her. I want to share with her the beauty and talents that she brings to those around her that has nothing to do with her body. I also will be sharing my favorite verse with her. Psalm 56:8 states, "You keep track of all of our sorrows (wanderings). You have collected all of my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. (NLT)
Thank you and God bless,
Gina Mosher
Good morning Ms. Renee. Please enter me in the above giveaway.
1. My name is Danita Goode at [email protected]
2. I am going to encourage my pastor's wife, Candyce Lucente, by writing a love letter to her from Jesus declaring His love for her and letting her know that He has a purpose and a plan for her to encourage and teach other women about becoming victorious in all areas of their lives through Christ Jesus. I'm presenting it to her tonight after dinner (she and pastor are coming over to our house for the first time for a Bible Study – my husband and I are becoming members of their church). The LORD impressed upon me to flip the switch by encouraging her (because she does not expect to receive the way she gives).
3. One of my favorite "encouraging" verses [when all hell seems to break loose in my thought life] is Philippians 4:8:
"…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
Thank you and have a BLESSED and JOYFUL day
Cherie Moore
email: [email protected]
The one person I am going to encourage this week is my Mom. She has been down the last few weeks, not really sure why…She has always been there, encouraged and prayed for me, and now it's my turn to Really step out and be there for her.
One of my favorite verses, wrap it all up!
1 Corinthians 13:13 NIV
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
God Bless You and Thank you for Proverbs 31 Ministries!
Cherie Moore
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
1. Cindy Purdy cpurdy0703 at yahoo dot com
2. my daughter by sharing daily devotionals & keeping our conversations positive.
3. Eph. 2:10
TEMPER is what gets most of us in trouble. PRIDE keeps us there.
Angelica Carrasco-Taylor
[email protected]
I would like to encourage my baby sister (27). In the last 9 months she has lost her job, her car, her place of residence, and her telephone service.
My favorite scripture is: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6
[email protected]
I will be encouraging my mom, a year ago today she almost died of Congestive Heart Failure.
The scripture that I use when I need encouragement and want to give encouragement is Proverbs 139:14 – I am Fearfully and Wonderfully made.
I am trying to encourage a young lady (teen) who doesn't know much about God. She is a sweet girl who has had to deal with some abuse and neglect in her life.
I also want to help out a lady at our local Christian school who works in the office.
It is fun to look for ways to bless others around you…whether a smile, a little help to someone in the grocery store, a kind word or joke to cheer someone up…There are so many opportunities around us…
Thanks for the reminder!
just wondering about posting email addresses…
1) isn't it unsafe to publically post email addresses?
(I've had mine stolen from a post before)
2)Just wondering why you have folks type them out with the at and dot….?
Riley
[email protected]
My stepmom. Today's devotional reminded me of the power of encouragement.
Favorite Verse: Be joyful always! – Thess. 5:16
[email protected]
I will be encouraging my prayer partner through my First Place For Health Class as she struggles with unhealthy food choices/temptations.
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6 (NIV)
Pam Wolfcale at [email protected]
A sweet friend at our church Preschool is going through chemo treatments for breast cancer. Her spirit is amazing. I plan to take her a dinner and have been sending her cards to encourage and support her.
But those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31
Today's devotional was perfect for me, as I myself am struggling with purpose as a stay at home housewife!
My name is Christine and my email is: [email protected]
I will be encouraging my husband today by reminding him how thankful I am for all his hard work in providing for us. I don't do that often enough and he needs to hear it!
My favorite scripture is this: "All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away" (John 6:37). It's my sweet reminder on those days when Satan tries to tell me I am unworthy of the Lord's love, that Jesus will never drive me away!
God bless!
[email protected]
I will be encouraging my friend who is struggling with weight loss.
My favorite verse for encouragment is
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23