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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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.
Sorry about you losing your post. How frustrating! You do good work here!
neuharth dot lisa at gmail dot com
I will be encouraging my sister-in-law and also a friend of mine. Both have some things going on in their lives right now.
I am just starting to relearn Bible verses (have forgotten everything I learned as a child), so at this point I don't have a favorite (yet).
Sorry about you losing your post. How frustrating! You do good work here!
neuharth dot lisa at gmail dot com
I will be encouraging my sister-in-law and also a friend of mine. Both have some things going on in their lives right now.
I am just starting to relearn Bible verses (have forgotten everything I learned as a child), so at this point I don't have a favorite (yet).
[email protected]
I'm currently encouraging a dear friend being forced through an unwanted divorce by being her 2am friend and offering scriptural reminders that neither God nor I have forsaken her.
I'm also encouraging my 6-member sermon transcript team (we provide our pastors' weekly messages in written format for use by the hard-of-hearing, those who get more out of reading than hearing, and for several members who distribute them in prisons). This team frequently experiences computer issues that can cause great frustration. So I encourage the team with a scripture passage the Lord gave me for this very purpose:
Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. (Psalm 144:1, NIV)
Sorry about your post – but glad you went to bed!!!
I will be encouraging my friend who has been out of work for 2+ years and has just about given up her search. My verse is:
Phil 4:12-13 –
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Hello Renee.
Thank you for your time and commitment to P31 ministries. It brings me daily encouragement.
Jill at [email protected]
I will be encouraging my young son who has a hard time making friends. He is a beautiful boy with a special personality.
I say and use IPeter 5:7.
My name is Terri Huestis
My email is thuestis9494 at yahoo dot com
I will be encouraging my son this week because he is having a hard time keeping up with his grades
Philippians 4:13 (King James Version)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Good morning!
I was filled with encouragement as I read other posts.
Thank you for uplifting words to start my day!
My email is . . .
kelaineexpress at yahoo dot com
I continue to encourage a friend who is battling breast cancer, depression, loss of her job, and is married to a man she can't depend upon as he hasn't had a steady income in 6 years.
She's only 52.
Please join with me in praying for her.
I have several favorite encouragement Scriptures.
The one I give her today is
Psalms 70.
keeroga at yahoo dot com
I'm encouraging my 13-year-old daughter.
Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5
Commit and trust both strong, life-changing words.
Cindy
vwilson at gmail dot com
I will be encouraging my parents and mother in law, both of who take care of our young son happily and lovingly.
My favorite scriptures for encouraging my sisters in the Lord include a variety from Proverbs 31.
Renee, thanks for the devotional. I needed the encouragement to get back to encouraging! I know that it is a gift I have been blessed with, but I have allowed busyness to be my excuse…time to write and mail some cards.
God bless, Victoria
my fav encouraging verse for tjis moment is probably:
Phil 1:19b
…"what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance." such an encouragement that our trials/struggles are not just "life", but rather that God intends to use them for greater things.
My other one would be Isaiah 58:9
"then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."
This week I am encouraging my mom. She is in pain and I am standing on the promise that God WILL answer and this will be for her deliverance.
Though weary and tired, I'm grateful to serve a dependable God who always has our best in mind. NO randomness with our God!
Amen!!
Pennycmoore at hotmail dot com