The doorbell rang soon after I got home from dropping off a thank you note at my neighbor house. Surprised to see Janet standing on my front porch, I listened as she held up an envelope and explained: “Renee, this is the most amazing thank you note I have ever read; you have a writing gift and you need to use it.”
I was puzzled. It was only a thank you note after all.
Yet Janet’s words of affirmation stayed with me all afternoon. Her confidence made me wonder if God might use my words to touch the lives of others.
Prayers for direction had filled pages of my journal that month as I struggled to figure out what I was good at.
A few weeks later I attended a women’s dinner series at my church. Taking notes on a napkin, I thought about how nice it would be for the message series to be captured in a booklet so we could remember and apply the lessons in our everyday lives. Then I got the craziest idea: maybe I could write a study guide to give to other women who want to go deeper, too.
Quickly, doubt filtered my idea through reality: Who am I to think I could write something women would want to read?
Unable to get the thought out of my head over the next few days, I finally told Janet. Much to my shock she loved the idea. And she claimed the women’s ministry team had been praying for months about a gift to give the women after the dinners and that this was an answer to their prayers.
A few weeks later, they asked me to write a study guide. I nearly suffocated under the weight of insecurity, but Janet kept encouraging me, praying for me and telling me she believed in me.
With her prayers and prodding I wrote it, and over a thousand copies were given away. Then I wrote another the next year, and then another.
As I think about the impact of Janet’s words on my life and ministry sixteen years ago, I’m reminded of Elizabeth and her words to Mary when she arrived to tell her cousin she was pregnant with God’s child. “Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her! Luke 1:45
What a difference it must have made for Mary to have Elizabeth believe in the promise God proclaimed over her. Today as I think about a thank you note that started the legacy of my writing ministry years ago, I’m so grateful I get to encourage YOU because Janet believed in and encouraged me.
***
Here I sit, sixteen years later, sharing this online study living in a promise I pray almost every day. “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within me.” Eph 3:20
This month, I want to honor the difference you make in my life and in each other’s lives through something we’re doing at Proverbs 31 Ministries to recognize and honor women like you and Janet through Legacy Cards we’re sending to those who have touched lives and impacted legacies:
I’m getting one for Janet and my mom {for Mother’s Day}, and a few others who have impacted my life and my legacy.
And today I bought one in HONOR of YOU my amazing online study friends!!
Each time you leave a comment and share your heart, your prayers, your journey with me and with each other — God uses it to spur me on and to encourage one another in so many ways. Whether it’s a few sentences or a few paragraphs, when I read how Jesus is loving on you, how you’re loving on each other or how He’s speaking to you through His words or something I wrote in my book or my blog, it’s a huge deposit of encouragement!! So thank YOU for sharing that part of yourself with me and with us! You impact my legacy sweet friends, and I am so very grateful!
For more details about our Legacy cards click here.
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I am so thankful that a friend told me about Poverty 31 ministries. She had no way of knowing that this Bible study was written for me. It has been just what I needed forever. Praise God I am beginning to let go of the belief that I am not worthy of the love Ive read about all my life in the Bible.With lots of prayer and being more aware that satanist lying to me I believe I can overcome these feelings! Thank u Renee for being obedient.
Renee – I have to thank you again for sharing your story and your wisdom through your book and this study! I found encouragement through your story to help my step-daughter with a difficult situation involving her dad and I. And, it gave me the perfect opportunity to witness to her – through your story! She has accepted my offer to mentor her spiritually, and I am going to begin by gifting her with a copy of your book. I pray that she will take the time to read it, and that she is richly blessed, as so many of us have been!
You are a gentle soul Renee, yet so strong – in the Lord! It is encouraging to see how empowered you are through our Lord, and to know that this same power is offered and available to ALL of us! We just need to seek, and trust. 🙂
I’ve never posted on this because it’s easier to sit here and be distant from it. But this study is changing me, or well making me who I really am and not letting me hide anymore. Thank you for all that you do. Thank you for recognizing God speaking to you to lead you to write because it’s helped not only me, but countless others listen to Him as well.
Renee,
Thank you so much for the sweet card. It really made me feel special. This is actually the second time I started the online study of your book, but this time I am sticking with it. I am so thankful for the truth of God’s love and His plan for my life. I am also thankful that He is using your book to help me see that I am chosen and loved by Him. I am coming to realize that even if no one else ever chooses me (as a wife) that He is enough and life with Jesus is far better than life with the wrong man.
Renee,
I just wanted to thank you for being faithful to God’s will and writing books. Reading and participating in this Bible study has built up my confidence. I have to share with you, as I read chapter 4, I felt God impress on me to buy a book for my friend. So I did. I gave it to her this Sunday and she said she had been praying for God to help her with some issues she is dealing with. I am so glad I listened to God. I hope the book and Bible study helps fill “those empty places” and heal some open wounds.
Again, thank you.
Thank you!
I feel that God is asking my husband and i to start a group in our home. We both are involved with children during Sunday school and are really needing some fellowship and bible time.
You should definitely do it. The people you get to know in that group will help you and hold you to your faith. Good luck and do it!
Hi Treasure
I wanted to start a bible study for women in my house for years but the enemy kept telling i am uncapable…This year a aldy in a bible study encourged me to take over the bible study over as she is expecting . At first I wasn’t sure but then God gave me peace.. Let me tell you . this was one of the best things i did, The ladies in the group are a blessing and an ebncouragment. and Yes I might not be Renee:) but I know God is blessing this bible study and He is leading it
So my friend I will pray for you and your husband as you meet a new challange with the Lord
sending you a hug of prayer and much love
Kim
Renee,
THANK YOU for your amazing words, for letting God work through you for the benefit of the rest of us. I’m a single mom of 3, just hit my two year anniversary surviving breast cancer (Thank You Jesus!) and have been on disability due to lymphedema & RA for going on 6 months. I’ve been feeling lost, alone, and somewhat useless… Until reading your book and doing this study with everyone. Thank you for reminding us that God loves us so much more than we can ever imagine. God has blessed you with an awesome gift of sharing and encouraging so many ladies. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Hi Sara, I am a mom of four, and just past my third year as a breast cancer survivor. I know how hard recovery is and I want you to know I will pray for you. Even though I can’t do everything I want to, God has taught me to daily, just for today, do what He wants me to do – love Him, thank Him, love my kids. I find it so much easier to live this way and were it not for the cancer, I would not know the sweetness of living daily. God bless you.
I just love all of you Proverbs 31 women. Am so thankful for this Bible Study. It has really touched my heart. This weekend I went back and revisited each of your video messages and they so blessed my heart. I have never really lacked confidence in the Lord, because He has put wonderful people like you in my path time and time again when I need a special word from him. Thank you for allowing each of us to revisit our past and move forward with confidence that only the Lord can provide.
Renee, you have helped me so much. The Lord is stretching and encouraging me through this study. Thank you! Thank you, for listening to the Lord and helping me to do the same. Blessings to you and to my fellow sisters in the Lord who are doing this study. You all have been an encouragement to me.
WOW!! Thank you Renee!! Thank you for being part of my legacy and for being a difference maker in my life!! Love you like crazy!
Renee, this study has hit spot on with some deep thigs, mostly insecurities, I deal with daily. Thank you for providing this honor I can bestow on a woman who has mentored me, followed md, and loved me since my own mom dies four and a hakf years ago. I will be sure that “Captain Mom”, a retired Navy nurse, knws how much I appreciate the role she has taken on in keeping me on the right path and remiding me that I am loved.
Renee you have made a huge impact on my walk and I feel so blessed to know you. Your words have touched my heart time and time again. When I feel down, depressed, discouraged or just feel plain bad about myself, all I have to do is pick up your book. It is like an extension of God’s Word to me because you have laid out so clearly what God’s truths are. I love you sweet sister and I thank God for bringing you into my life.
I sit here having taken a quick break form what i was doing to check email and the tears fill my eyes and gratitude my heart. you see For the past few hours I have been working on developing and writing a program for a school that will impact hundreds of children. I was hired for the job yet am not “officially” qualified. My thoughts were “Who do you think you are? What mess have you gotten yourself into? What makes you think you can do this? People are going to question your ability!” But I forged ahead anyway. And on my break I read this!
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all I ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within me.” Eph 3:20
I will write this on my white board sitting in front of my desk so that I am reminded every day. Thank you so much.
Renee- Your words are truly a blessing. God has given you such a gift. I appreciate you sharing your story and giving me the “real” perspective, the heart wrenching reality of life. You words are such an inspiration.
Renee,
This book has been so encouraging to me. It has literally helped me to crawl out of the pit I’ve been in for 19 years. Not to go into my testimony, but I’ve had a lot of crud in my life, and I was OVERLOADED by shadows of doubt!! It was as if I was in a forest completely surrounded by darkness – but His light has come through in your book, and in getting me engaged in His Word, and now, I can proclaim HIS TRUTH!! I’ve even gone a bit wild and began buying the book for people! As I was in service this morning, I was able to actually raise my hands to God and just feel FREE!!! Thank you for your correspondence, interaction and encouragement on Facebook! Thank you for your humble obedience – because of you and Christ, I don’t “own” lies I used to! Blessings!!
Brittany
My girlfriend and I have met every Friday morning at 6:15 for breakfast & fellowship for the past, too many to count, years. Not knowing until recently we were both reading Confident Heart and will be starting the book over and reading it together. I so appreciate the words you’ve written and the way it encourages the faith of two girlfriends. We have both experienced overwhelming events in our lives and God has been gracious to space them so we can take turns sustaining each other. We choose to put our confidence in The Lord of our lives and appreciate the strategies you provide in the book Renee. God bless you richly as we walk life together.
Wow this came today when I was feeling really down. You lifted my spirit. God is trying to tell me something. We’re doing a series at church called weights. Finding our significants in worldly people and things instead of him, and why it’s not working for us. So I’m doing your study online and hearing the sermon, and doing a study at life group called A Significant Life. So three things all pointing at the same problem. Trying to find myself worth is hard. But this study is sure showing me truths. Thanks for doing this study. Thank you for not giving into that doubt and writing this study for us.
I just want to say I am so thankful for your book. It has been the encouragement and growth opportunity I need. I’m looking forward to reading it a second time already and making new notes in the margin!
It’s like you wrote this book for me, Renee! It’s such a comfort to know that there are other women who struggle with the same insecurities I do; I used to tear myself down because I thought I was the only one who had some of the deep thoughts you have been sharing with us, and because of that, I must be some kind of terrible person. But you and all of the ladies here are showing that it is okay to not be of perfect mind or body, because we would not need GOD if we were!
I also loved reading the word “worry” and your explanation of it in Chapter 6. I have long been called a “worry-wort,” and I loved how you explained exactly WHERE it can come from. Just like knowing the root of any disease, knowing the root of worry, (self-doubt), will help us all to cure ourselves of an affliction that robs us of today’s gifts and tomorrow’s hope.
I look forward to reading every chapter, every blog post, and watching every video message because it really feels like you are talking TO us, not down on us. God bless you for all that you do. I hope you can always find the strength and courage to continue inspiring women!
that’s so true! i can identify with that situation when someone spurred you on and believed in you. It’s like something in you rises up and bring life! ;)) thank u!!