Oh how I am LOVING reading so much about each of you. Gosh I wish we could all meet!! What an amazing group of women of all ages and from all places God has gathered here in HIS name! Makes me just about burst with joy! And now, I’m so glad today is here. Some days my written words come easily. Other days I just have to show and tell you what’s on my heart. Today is one of those days.
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{Are you a note-taker? If so, I created “Video Message Notes” in a PDF and in MSWord just for you. Even included blanks to fill in. 🙂
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Renee, I could sit and listen to you speak for hours about Jesus. You have been blessed with such wisdom and you share it in such a loving way! I agree 100% with you about how we are always searching and trying to fulfill a void in our life and when we think we have done it , we wonder why we feel so very empty inside. I cannot count the times I have done this….shopping for clothes, or going to a certain party or even thinking doing a certain thing at church was what you need to do at that time…..but it was never right….always that empty feeling like you had just run out of gas. It took me receiving a diagnosis of ALS in March 2012 to realize what I totally needed at all times and all those things I thought I needed , just how unimportant they really were. I just recently gave my nephew an awesome DVD about teenagers reaching for the wrong things to fulfill themselves, with alcohol, drugs, sex, etc…and how GOD is the only way we will be totally fulfilled. I gave it to him to share with the youth(teenagers) at his church. It breaks my heart because I see my friends and relatives doing the same as I did….thinking that all the world has out there is going to really make a difference. The sad thing is I was involved in church and so are the people I am referring to but I was not totally letting God be the leader of my life . I tried to fix and do on my own without waiting on HIM. I have seen the light…I believe that is part of the good that will come from having ALS. I just want to thank you for this beautiful book , the love you are sharing through the glorious wisdom God has blessed you with, and the encouragement I receive from you every time I read your words!
It is always great to be reminded of how God loves each and everyone of us. I am so glad that I am allowing Him to fill my empty places. There is no greater love, ,then the one You have for me Lord!
This video was a great reminder for me. I grew up without a dad and allows felt like I was not good enough for my mom and I was always trying to find love and someone to fill those holes in my heart. I have recently go through a divorce and I have been searching for a man to fill that hole again. This video really reminds me that its God who I am searching for. I need to focus my time and energy on our relationship and once he has filled me with his living water, then more doors will open for me. Thanks Renee for confirming this message. I am so grateful for this study.
All of those things in the jar can be taken away in just a moment of time……..loss of a job or death or extended illness. The one thing that cannot be taken away is the love Christ has for us. We just simply need to trust that he will fill our jar with spiritual things and not materialistic things.
Such a great reminder that we need to get everything else out of the way to make room for Jesus 🙂
My name is Patti and I am the wife of a full time Army Reservist. We have 4 children who we homeschool. God is working amazing works in our lives right now. We are investigating a possible job change. It is taking a huge dose of faith. So this study is coming at the perfect time.
Wow, I really needed the reminder today about only God being able to fill our hearts. It is so easy to get caught up in chasing all that other stuff Renee talked about. This is why having a quiet time where I focus on God and His word is so important. I’ve always thought doing what I love as a career and following my heart would fulfill me and often get bitter because things didn’t work out like I thought they should. But I am reminded again today that nothing will ever fill me up and fulfill me like God.
What an awesome video! As the other women in this Bible study, I could see myself in filling my jar with other things to satisfy me when I truly just needs God’s unfailing love! It reminded me of what an evangelist had said when he was at my church. He stated, “Your husband, friends and family will disappoint you. There is only one person that can give you pure joy and that is our Heavenly Father!” How true that is! I use to look to my husband as my “knight and shining armor” and that he could fill my heart with happiness. He does to a certain extent but I have learned that my true joy comes from God and Him alone!
Hi Renee!
I watched your video and it was so powerful. Your demonstration allowed me to see how I’ve been looking to all the wrong people and things to fill this void that I have. I’m not finished reading ch. 3 because I have to keep putting it down to digest the words. The words that i’ve been looking for to verbalize what i’ve been feeling. As I read every other sentence I say to out loud “YEEESSSSSSSSSSS…UUUHHHHHH”!!!! It’s hitting a place deep down in my belly!!! I understand now!! Thank you Jesus!!!!
Thank You Renee for being available and willing to be used by God to pen the words that give us the understanding that so much of us have been looking for!!!
(PS – I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the note sheet as well. I’m a notetaker!!)
You are really helping me to understand my thoughts and feelings. I really “got it” when you were talking about your son who was looking for something but didn’t know what. I feel that way. I know I need something more but I didn’t know what. I now understand. I’ve always looked to people for acceptance and here all along God has accepted me for who I am. I know that there are other things that im going to uncover that I didn’t know I was looking for but at least I now know who has what I need. Im so grateful for this study. You are making me a better person and more important you are helping me to build my relationship with God. God bless you Renee!!!!
Thank you sooooo much for doing this Bible study! I have been wanting to do a Bible study for awhile now. I need all of your prayers for several reasons. Please know that I am praying for each of you also. God is so very good to us!!!
Hi Pam I’m praying for you for all your reasons and remember God Loves You and knows what you need and when you need it. He will provide you with all. In Christ Love Amen
Hello Angela 2! You made my day! Your prayers and reply mean alot to me. I’ll pray for you also! Hope you have a GREAT evening. With love in Christ
Renee,
Thank you for sharing this with us today. It was so nice to hear your voice. I really appreciated the part where you said, “Until God is enough, nothing else will be”, because this is something He’s been working on with me for a couple of years now. And when you were pouring the water into the jar, it just gave me chills. I could feel the Holy Spirit using your words to lift me! Thank you again for this message.
I love the way renee explains the Word of God so simple and plain. After I hear her speak i feel as though I can conquer the world. I am guilty of looking to people to fill my empty places. i use to hang out with a set of friends and as soon as they stopped talking to me I looked to people to fill me. Well, I am so glad that he Holy Spirit led me to Renee’s Bible study because this is just what I struggled with. BEING BY MYSELF AND LOOKING TO PEOPLE THINKING “THEY” WOULD MAKE ME HAPPY. I WAS SO SO WRONG. God is my strength and my source and only HE can fill those empty places in my life. We all have valleys, but in order to conquer those valleys we have to respond with TRUST and FAITH in God Almighty. I also long for marriage, but I am thankful to know that marriage wont fill my empty jar. I learned from this lesson to not always look fo rthe gifts, we should look to the giver, God Alone who is our refuge and strength .
I remember back when God had to show me that I was doing this in my life! People, jobs, money, church, status, and even family. All needed to be removed from me so he could consume with what he had for me, I began to see what was lacking and why it was lacking and how I could receive it, again this word RECEIVE was a challenge for me, b/c I did not like to take from ppl do to not wanting to OWE them any thing in return. Once I learned to receive what God had for me I then learned and began to see the gift that laid before me, through and FROM HIM and HIM alone. What a wonderful message and a GREAT reminder when life gets to busy with stuff all over again, I need to stay focused on being filled with more of Him and less of me!!!!!!!!!!!!
Been there, done that over and over and over. I came back to Jesus a year and a half ago and have been working at filling my jar up with him since. It is amazing to let Him fill me up. It feels better than any shoe purchase, sweets binge, or attention from others. He is the true sustenance for my soul.
Thank you so much Renee, me and my heart needed to hear your video. I think I’ve been searching my whole life.
What a timely message. Was just journaling today about looking to those around me to fill those spots or needs in me. It really does feel like that sometimes to, like I don’t quite know what I’m looking for. Going seek Him for the answer to that question over the next couple days. He is really more than able to fill my jar and leave no empty spots.
Chapter 3 was very eye opening for me. I see how I have always tried to fill my heart with worldly things and people. Even as a Christian woman, I am trying to fill my life with “good works” and “serving” others. I get so caught up in trying to think of what I can do for God, that I don’t spend time with Him, I don’t stop and listen for His voice. I am not drinking His living water. I’m still thirsty and searching. “I know that I am saved, but I am not satisfied.” This speaks straight to my heart. I think serving and being Gods hands and feet are good, important, but that doesn’t validate my salvation, it is a product of the love God and I share. God is still building a foundation in me, I have to learn to slow down and focus on Him. I love this bible study. It’s the first one I have ever been apart of. I’m still a new Christian, and I love the openness of sharing with women walking in my shoes. God Bless.
@Lori-so needed to hear this today, thanks & may God OVERFLOW your jar:-)) i wish I could somehow print this off as a reminder to me!
Thanks Renee for the great visual. Every time I think I have this area covered I find myself once more looking to other people to give me significance and applause. You are correct no one person can fill us and meet our every need like our God. He knows us best and knows exactly what we need to fill those voids. Thank you again for the reminders. This book is a blessing.
This message was exactly what I needed today. Lately I have been feeling empty and it has effected my relationship with my husband and 2 girls. Your advice and action steps are a great help. Thanks for the book and this OBS.