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!
Discover more from Renee Swope
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
I hate it when i loose something! Sorry that you did. mitzi_wanham[at]yahoo[dot]com
your post on my email spoke to my heart already. i will be encouraging my mom…she is 84 and is struggling with the issues that come with age…lose of independance, mostly.
mitzi_wanham at yahoo dot com
Jennifer at mjej4338 at embarqmail dot com. My favorite encouragement scripture is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "Plans of good and not evil to give you a future and a hope." It's turned into a life verse for me.
I plan on trying to encourage at least one person a day. Today, I texted my husband what I hope are some encouraging words, as he faces a tough day at work. Thanks so much for your words that were "aptly spoken". 🙂
Cherlyn Hager; Cherlyn Hager at hotmail dot com
I will encourage my friend, Myrna.
My favorite encouraging scripture is:
She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction on her tongue. Prov 31:26
Kristen Lila-kristenlila at aol dot com
I am going to encourage my girlfriend Sandra who has been going through a hard time.
My favortie encouraging verse is one of the one's you shared: "For [you] are God's masterpiece. He has created [you] anew in Christ Jesus, so [you] can do the good things he planned for [you] long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)"
tiffanysmirl at hotmail dot com
One of the 5 people I am going to encourage this week is my cousin Karmin who is going through a bad divorce after 17 years of marriage to an alcholic. I am going to send her a card with my favorite scripture which is listed below along with Jeremiah 29:13 that you have listed on the home page.
"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
God Bless.
Kerry Webster
[email protected]
I am going to encourage my mother this week. Her fiance' had hip replacement sugery two weeks ago and it has really been hard on her. I have not spoken to her in a few daysb, tu plan to call her this evening after work. I have done wellin being able to draw her out and get under that tough exterior lately. This way I have been able to get to the meat and potatoes of the issues that are hanging on her and provide her with some encouraging words.
The verse I would share is Phillipians 4:8
Sorry to hear that you lost your post.
I will be engouraging my daughters this week. They are going through some difficulties.
My favority scripture on encouraging is:
Phil. 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.
Greetings!
[email protected]
I will be praying for my dear friend that just found out yesterday she has cancer of the lymph nodes. One of my favorite scriptures is Micah 6:8 "to walk humbly with our God."
Thank you for a wonderful devotion on P31 this morning! It was so encouraging, and such a great reminder to PASS THAT ON!! God sends His messages from heart to heart, doesn't He?! This week I'll be encouraging my kids, but also my mom who is caregiving a relative with stage IV brain cancer.
colt_pony at hotmail dot com
My favorite scripture this week is Psalm 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD." This could go on and on, it's a wonderful Psalm!!!
Thanks so much, again!
My name is Suzette, my email is [email protected]
I will be encouraging my best friend this week. He is struggling with his faith and guilt. People in our church are reaching out to him and he is not accepting help.
My favorite scripture on encouraging is:
Don't you be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. Yes, I will uphold you with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10
I loved the devotional on encouragement. It was just what I needed!
elliottsauto at infionline dot net
I plan to encourage my friend Tami. We are planning to go to lunch this week. I am going to tell her what an encouragement she has been to me.
[email protected]
This week I will be sending Valentines to 3 college students and encouraging them to keep up the good work and to remind them of God's love.
Hebrews 13:5
I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.
(This scripture is good frontwords and backwords….Thee leave, nor thee forsake, NEVER will I!)
[email protected]
I will be encouraging my daugher. She is 11 weeks pregnant very nauseous and also has a bad respiratory infection. She and her husband have a 3 year old and he is sick also. Will you say a prayer for them please!
I will never leave you nor forsake you" comes from Hebrews 13:5
So sorry that you lost your post but with God you never know what he is up to. Might be He wanted you to utilize plan B which is what you have done. He wanted to see His daughters encouraging a loved one by glorifying His name. I am going to encourage two male friends of mine who are at a rough place in their lives. I will text them. My email is [email protected]. My verse is Psalm 56: 3-4 "Whenever I am afraid,I will trust in You. In God I have put my trust, I will not fear. What can flesh do to me".
I will be encouraging my friend Ann at work. She is continually being passed over for promotion due to 2 women that like to start trouble. I am praying for her and I have told her to read Psalm 138:7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. Amen
So sorry that you lost your post but with God you never know what he is up to. Might be He wanted you to utilize plan B which is what you have done. He wanted to see His daughters encouraging a loved one by glorifying His name. I am going to encourage two male friends of mine who are at a rough place in their lives. My verse is "Whenever I am afraid,I will trust in You. In God I have put my trust, I will not fear. What can flesh do to me".
Your encouraging words this morning (Tue) were wonderful! You are right that the right words will come along at the right time.
My email is: l dot preiss at comcast dot net
I'd love to encourage my daughter who is sick right now and also my husband who is away from home for a few weeks.
One of my favorite encouraging verses is Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
Blessings to you and everyone at Proverbs 31 Ministries.
Linda
Renee,
Your encouragement blog was emailed to me this morning. I will forward it to your email. Hopefully this will save you some stressing 🙂
Amy
Thank you for your post.
[email protected]
I will be encouraging my best friend and sister-n-law as she struggles with the loss of one of her dear patients last week. She is new in the nursing field but has such a heart that each of her patients has touched her in some way even though she didn't want to admit it. Having lost one has been heartbreaking for her. She has definitely been given a gift from God to help others. I having been praying that God will open her eyes to see what a true gift she has and is to everyone.
Sorry for your frustrations! The devil is always trying to interfere with our good work…press on…
OrganicaLandscape at gmail dot com
This week I am encouraging myself! I am feeling a bit low but I know that I am a daughter of the King and I must continue my race!
Leaning on Galatians 6:9 this week: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
🙂