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Renee Swope

Encouraging and equipping moms to parent with God's grace and confidence.

Read An Excerpt: Chapter 1 & 2

Encouraging Words Wednesday

Photobucket“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

Have you ever wanted to silence the voices of your fears? In my Encouragement for Today devotion at Proverbs 31 Ministries, I shared how I learned to do just that by helping someone else overcome theirs. Before I knew it, I had faced my fear of open heights because I wanted to help a friend’s child conquer his. And that day, I conquered mine, too.

Without even realizing it, I acted on God’s command and believed God’s promise in Joshua 1:9 that tells me I can overcome my fears with God’s strength. I realized in a very tangible way that the same promises I claim so boldly for others are true for me, too.

Like God did with Joshua in today’s verse, each day we have the same opportunity to come alongside each other in some of life’s hardest challenges and highest peaks and say, “Don’t give up, you can do it. I’ll be with you and I will help you.”

Today is Encouraging Words Wednesday. The second Wednesday of each month we gather here for encouragement and commit to share the power of encouragement with someone in our lives. In believing the power of God’s promises for others, our confidence in His promises for us seems to grow as well. I like to call it the “encouraging words” boomerang effect.

Encouraging words have the power and potential to bring courage to the discouraged. Hope to the hopeless. Assurance to the insecure. Clarity to the confused. Strength to the weak. Calm to someone’s chaos. Comfort for someone’s sadness.

Encouraging words say, “I notice and I care enough to take this moment to tell you because you matter to me and you matter to God.”

So, today let’s shift our focus off our fears, doubts, insecurities and personal struggles and help someone overcome theirs. All we have to do is look for someone who could use a kind word, a boost of confidence, a note with a Bible verse or a short prayer in it. Even just a simple facebook post or email saying what we really appreciate about them, or how you see God’s heart in something they do will make such an impact!

Join me and let’s watch to see the difference this will make in our families, neighborhoods, work places and churches.

Lord, thank You for the power of Your words that give me courage to become who You’ve created me to be – to go to places You’re calling me to go and climb spiritual heights that are out of my reach without Your help. Give me Your encouragement and help me encourage someone else today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Encouraging Words Wednesday Gift PackHis Princess: Love Letters from Your King
by Sheri Rose Shepherd (This is one of the most encouraging books ever!)

The Power of a Purpose Driven (and Encouraging) Mom
message on CD by Renee Swope (What a difference you can make!)

20 of God’s Promises to personalize and send to a friend
(Nothing is more powerful than God’s promises!)

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To enter to win
simply share some encouragement and let me know about it.
Click on the word “comments” below this post and type in the white box:

  1. Commit to it- List one person you’re going to encourage today or this week and how you’re going to do it.
  2. Share it – Share a link to this post with friends via Facebook. Just lick on my Facebook badge in my sidebar. Then click on “share” under my EncWds button on my FB page. You can also Tweet and/or email a friend a link and let me know. 
  3. Spread it – Forward today’s devotion to someone who has been an encouragement in your life, and thank them. It will really mean a lot to them!For an extra chance to win, add our Encouraging Words Wednesday button to your blog with a link to today’s post, then come back and let me know in another comment. You can grab the code from my sidebar under the button.
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Winners announced Monday – want to be notified ?
If you’d like to be updated when I post or notified when I announce the winner, additional give-aways or find out early about special promotions, enter your email in the white box in my sidebar (right under the P31 logo). I will not share your email with anyone. Promise.

Comments

  1. Jun 19, 2009· diamond jewelry is among the nearly all misspelled phrases inside the uk terminology…. How do we spell it and the way in case you tap out that let’s say you sell diamond jewelry on the webjewelry

  7. Renee, your message touched a sensitive, private and painful spot in my mind and heart. I also am constantly comparing myself to other mothers, asking why they seem to have everything in control and handle things with such ease and precision. I truly want to be a God's word driven family and have tried on so many occasions to start this daily practice only to be met with attitude or eye rolls. When I've reached my fill of trying to divert these reaction I usually say to myself "FORGET IT", if they don't care then why should I?
    I know this is not how God wants me to handle this but sometimes the frustration is more than I can handle. My roll as a mom is to nurture, love, discipline, be a good example, role model and I am just not that good at it. Or I might be, but am being too hard on myself. Whatever the case, when I read your thoughts on Andrew Carnagie, I realized that I too am looking to closely at the faults instead of the virtues.
    I like this perspective of digging deeper and seeing my daughter for who she is rather that wondering why she isn't acting the way I think she should be. I also like the golden nugget idea. Perhaps allowing her to make the right decision instead of constantly trying to drive the point home will be a better approach.
    Renee, I woke up today in my usual overwhelmed funk but after reading your message, I feel better, maybe even a little less overwhelmed with a new perspective. Thank you for your words of encouragement.

  8. I woiuld love to win the Confident Heart Friendship gift pack. I would share with my cousin who is my best friend and sister in Christ. We walk together and talk together, I love her!

  9. I am a military wife to two girls ages 4 and 2 with another on the way due in Nov. I find your stories so encouraging for me especially as I journey through mommyhood most days on my own because my husband is deployed. If I won, I would love the GoBible Voyager and I would have to be selfish this year and keep the gift for me for mothers day!!! There are days that I want to quit and give my husband my pink slip at the end of the day, but I can't. There is no one else when he is gone and my girls need a spiritually filled mom!! Thanks for reading and Happy Mother's Day to you!
    [email protected]

  10. This is Stacey Cortes again I have wrote two long blogs with my situation and they have not posted, so i will give a short version. My aunt is 51 and diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had mestasis her brain on March 3 2011. At first she was given 9 mo then she had 4 radiation treatments and they told her that it wasn't working and gave her a couple of weeks. That was on March 9. My pastor meet with her and my uncle in the hospital and shared the gospel for about an hour. Every chance i get i try to share some verses with her. I will share todays verse with her also. I drive 120 miles round trip to take care of her everyday. I have my CNA license so she feel very comfortable with me there. In this situtation alot of people have become closer in their relationship with God, including myself. God is so wonderful for that. Last night she said that her time was near to go to her home in the sky and meet God.

  11. I would love to hear some words of ecouragement that I can share with my aunt that is dying of stage 4 lung cancer that has mestasis to her brain and lymph nodes. Thank you Stacey Cortes

  12. I would love to be entered into the giveaway! I would like the Voyager GoBible if I win. Thank you for the awesome devotionals! They always seem to fit in what I am going through at the time. God is good!

  13. I read your devotion today on Words of Encouragement, at just the right time. I lost my dear husband a few months ago to a horrible accident, and am now raising our 2 little girls, age 5 and 8, on my own. We had a wonderful awesome special story as a family,and I don't even know where or how to begin to grieve. We have some great friends around us, but sadly, all of our families are out of state. We fostered and then adopted our youngest daughter, who has some developmental and behavioral issues. So these days, I am just trying to get through each day with the help of God. He has been so awesome to us, and is taking care of us. I am closer than ever to him, though horribly poor with my quiet times and devotions. Thank you for your "realness" about motherhood. I feel like a terrible mother these days, and am leaning on the Lord for help.
    Thanks and sorry for the ramble…

  14. The "ministry of encouragement" is one I share with you wholeheartedly. It's actually the crux of my personal mission statement, based on II Corinthians 5:18: "To be an ambassador of reconciliation through words of encouragement."
    Today I have the humbling task of taking my teenage daughter to the funeral of a young friend who perished in a fire last week, along with her older sister. I am praying that God will give me just the right words to encourage someone there today.
    I try to follow the example of Lee Iococca, who said, "If you have something negative to say, say it in person. If you have something nice to say, write it down." The written word is a powerfully tangible and lasting thing. Just yesterday, I forwarded a note of encouagement to our school superintendent, who as you can imagine is the first to hear complaints, but perhaps the last to be appreciated.
    For my daughter, who has just turned 16, we are (secretly!) collecting written words of blessing and encouragement for her as she fast approaches womanhood. I trust that these sweet words from teachers, friends and others who have helped shape her life will be a continual source of encouragement to her in the coming years.
    Finally, I did forward your devotional to my sister-in-law, who is coming to the end of a 4-year lawsuit in which we pray for God's victory.
    Thank you so much for the reminder of this very signigicant ministry!

  17. I want to encourage my husband. I am afraid I let my desires for more get in the way of appreciating him for loving me as Christ loves the church.

  18. Hi, Renee
    Found your blog from the P31 devotions I receive as emails. My husband is a wonderful encourager and I'm starting to learn the power of encouraging words. Doesn't take much effort, just a few words given by God, to make someone else perk up! Linked to your post. My Mom is ill and she needs my encouragement, so she is the main person I will encourage. blessings on your day!

  19. I'm going to encourage my 10 yr old daughter-she's such a wonderful, loving girl and I want her to have the confidence I lacked at that age. She is loved and treasured. I want to encourage her by my words and more importantly, my actions. I want my actions to tell her I love her and believe in her.

    Amy v.

  20. Renee – I posted today's encouragement on my Facebook page to encourage my friends!!! Thanks for your encouragement to me! I am also going to send emails to two ladies I spent the day with today to thank them for their friendship!
    God Bless!!!
    Dori
    [email protected]

  21. I have 2 dear friends who are having rough times in their lives. I sent each of them a special text of encouragement. I also shared on FB!

  22. I was so encouraged by your devotional today that I shared it with my 3 sisters! What a blessing! God bless you!

  24. I will be praying for my children ,granddaughter,my mom and my friend Mike. Thank you Renee and blessings!! Barb Wall

  25. Thanks for reminding us to encourage others. Doing a bible study by Jennifer Rothschild and we were talking about who God says we are, this confirms our need to encourage others in who we are in Christ. I will be sharing with them this week

  26. I was encouraged by today's verse. My husband and I are leaving our boys with my mom while we travel 8 hours away to attend my husband's grandmothers funeral. I've been very anxious about leaving them, but this verse has reminded me that I have nothing to worry about. God is in control.

    I am going to pass the encouragement onto my brother. He is a single father of four and struggles with alcoholism. It's a daily battle for him and I want to encourage him by providing a Godly example and by reminding him that he is loved.

  27. I plan to share this verse and many more with my husband this week. He is going through a very rough time right now and he needs all the encouragement he can get. Thank you for your encouragement and inspiration.

  28. I do not have facebook or a blog but I have several friends that I always forward the Proverbs 31 devotionals because they encourage me greatly, and my friends tell me they love receiving them. I have two friends facing major trials in their life: one in her last months of her battle with breast cancer and thankfully a dear christian woman. The other waiting to hear results from a biopsy with suspected breast cancer. I have sent emails to an army of prayer warriors for these dear ladies. My 84 yr. old father has prostate cancer and I recently was blessed with his accepting Christ. He lives in another state, and I send him a card of encouragement each week. It truly is a joy to encourage others and takes our focus off self and makes our own struggles seem so small.

    Loved this posting and blog.

    Many Blessings and sweet joy to you, Renee, for all you do to encourage us to reach out to give of ourselves to others.

    Donna

  29. I was going to comment to enter, but after reading Trellis' comment (#1), I want her to win!! I see the same need @ my church with the elderly/lots of sickness, depression, discouragement…it truly takes a concerted effort to try to touch each one on a regular basis. THAT is inspiring!!

  30. It is funny because I read this shortly after having the opprotunity to encourage a friend of mine…only to have her be an encouragement to me in a way I hadn't expected. It was beautiful…and this one experience may have very well been life changing for me. It is so beautiful how God orchestrates these things…at times like this, where in two different lives, two differnet hearts, two very different situations, we can be shown that despite the differences, we are both needing the very same thing…this is the fingerprint of God being visible…I love it! I will definately be sharing this with her, and on my facebook page, and I am committed to being an encouragement to her in her time of need…and I am blessed that we can share this time together with faith in God's power.

  31. You know, I was molested when I was five raped at eight years old.
    I've never had family emotional support and have lived with PTSD for many years.

    I've forgiven my abusers.

    My mom recently, unexpectedly died. Last March.I have lived with her my whole life.
    The one year is coming up and today I was told her homes have been listed up for sale. I don't have a place to live and also there was a gas shut off letter on the door that they shut the gas off and while talking to the gas company my microwave blew out!

    I was diagnosed with a fatal lung disease that the only cure is a lung transplant and my dog who i loved like a child died in December.

    And my best friend Wendy died a couple of years ago. we were friends for our whole lives almost 40 years.She too was sexually abused.

    On a positive note I recieved my order from Made To Crave both the book and study book so maybe it will be alittle easier to work on that! I did buy two sets and gave
    a set away to help someone else.

    I love to read and would love to win your book for some encouragement.

    Ya know, I have to say when I saw Do you want to be well I didn't like reading that.

    I have sought for help for many years. unable to even get any counseling. I wasn't allowed.
    or the counseling that was available through medicaid is horrible. I called a few days ago and they can't see me for at least 10 weeks!

    I would really really appreciate your prayers that would be the best encouragement knowing someone is really praying for me.

    Thank You.

  32. I offered a word of encourage on a blog to praise and worship God through song whenever your heart is troubled. Thanks for this devotion!

  33. A young woman whom I do not know works at an animal shelter in the city and has spent a lot of time trying to reunite us with a cat that used to belong to my son. After we made a heartbreaking decision to let her go to an adoptive family, I sent this young woman an email and thanked her again for all her time, and I told her she had a wonderful heart. I added, "Bless You". I know it is only a little thing, but I pray she was encouraged by it.

  34. Monday, I decided I was going to see how many compliments I could give. I started by messaging all of my facebook friends sharing with each what I loved about them. I received so many thanks back and people who said that came just when they needed it. God sent it to them just using me as the vehicle.

  35. let a family know that has been sick that we are praying for them and took them a meal.

  36. Commit to it- List one person you're going to encourage today or this week and how you're going to do it.

    Well, I am house bond at the moment but always try to encourage my family in the home but I am very active on Facebook so, I always encourage my family and friends there. It is a powerful tool the Lord has given us–one sentence of encouragement can pull someone out of the dark slimy pit. Praise God that He gave me the gift of encouragement. I feel like a Johnny Appleseed 🙂 I would love to win the Encouraging Words gift pack. Thanks for the chance and be blessed today, Renee.

  37. The first email that I checked this morning was from Proverbs 31. I was so excited and inspired by "Encouraging Words Wednesday". I sent a message and a bible verse to many of the women that are important to me with a note telling them that I love them and I hope thay have a great day!

  38. I am going to encourage my 18 year old son. We home school and I have just 93 more days before his life moves on to work and, later this year, military life.I want to send him off with the best outlook and encouragement possible!

  39. Good afternoon,
    I have a friend named Cindy who is struggling with some self doubt. She had a tough work feedback session with a boss who is not very supportive lately. I want to lift her up, she is a good woman who works hard and is appreciated by me at work. Thank you! I have been working on lifting her up, I will pray for more ideas and God's love for her too!
    Mary B in Virginia

  40. I love the idea of Encouraging Words Wednesday, I shared it with an online community I'm a part of that helps women to organise their lives and to let go of physical and mental clutter so I know words of encouragement can mean a lot to the members. Here's a link http://www.facebook.com/#TheFlyLady

  41. Your devotional on Encouragement was just what I needed today. There are many people who need a word of praise or help to make it through the day. When we look away from our doubts, fears, and weaknesses, we can be centered on the Lord and how to help those in crisis or need. My husband needs my words and actions to help him realize how much he is loved by God and me. Thank you. Kathy

  43. I would like to encourage Dawn who commented here today. You go girl. I will be praying for you. I am fifty five also and God is really been speaking to me about doing something else. I don't know you but I am proud of you for following after the dream that He has put in your heart. I am sure that it has not been easy.

  44. I was laying in bed this morning and the Lord brought to mind an older lady in our church. She has a lot on her plate but she is always so encouraging. I am going to send her a card and encourage her.Your post today was confirmation to me that I need to encourage her.

  45. I am encouraging a girlfriend of mine as a buisness owner and in her rediscovered faith in the Lord. She has been struggling with alot of things in her life and she has had numerous life changes recently. Ihad a great discussion with her early this week and have been daily sending her little texts of encouragement, calls, and in person words of encouragement to spend time with her creator, to let her know I lvoe and believe in her, and to encourage her that God does have a plan for her life.

    I "shared" on fb, heres the link : http://www.facebook.com/notes/renee-swope/encouraging-words-wednesday/10150125480712164#!/profile.php?id=194400032

    I forwarded to a friend who LOVES prov31 minitries and could use some encouragement today. 🙂

    THANK YOU for your encouragement! 🙂