Gem of the day:
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying,
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:
therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
~Jeremiah 31:3~
Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Hope you're all rejoicing in God's love today. Thought this was the perfect time to compile and post the anonymous notes of encouragement on the
Encouragefest post. I get warm fuzzies just looking through all these comments, even though I don't know many of the people listed. We're all blessed by many rich relationships in our lives - God is so good to us! :-D
I'd like to make sure everyone listed here gets to see their comments, so I'm wondering if a few of you might be willing to help notify people? On dialup it's a rather arduous process for me, but if several volunteered to help it wouldn't take long. Drop a note here if you'd be able to help - thanks!
4kingandprice4kingandprice is one of the sweetest ladies you could ever know. I love her openness as she learns - she is not afraid to let you see areas in which she recognizes she needs God's grace. That is an inspiration to me. I'm so glad to know you!
4kingandprince is gracious and humble and talented and beautiful and loving - I see so much of Jesus in her!
4kingandprince has a heart of simple, trusting faith that stands strong in the tempests of life. She is a virtuous woman, priced far above rubies. She is a treasure of a friend....in the deepest sense of that word.
617617 is a totally nutty guy. I love reading his journals.God bless you and your sweet family Brian!
alwayshis324alwayshis324 is fun, funny, and real. I wish I lived closer to her; we'd have a blast!
alwayshis324, thanks for your honesty and humor. Your example has impacted me for the good. Through your own health situations you have shown me how to move forward and how to live despite problems. THANK YOU!! Your example means more than you will ever know! I love you. <3 Keep trusting and keep on keepin' on!
annastasia_saysI am more thankful for annastasia_says than I can ever say without sounding overly cheesy.
annejiscaannejisca is a brave woman. God's done a lot in her life, and I look forward to seeing her little family continue to grow.
annejisca You make me laugh :) You make me smile :)
Your energetic, crazyness always makes me wish I could meet you in person.
I'm so happy for you and Josiah on your expecting your first child!!
I know your pregnancy hasn't been easy but hold on, the end is in sight!
You've persevered and never given up even though it would have been easier to. You stood up for what you believed in and I'm glad you had the courage to do so. You've encouraged me to have a little more courage and faith.
Keep smiling and looking up!! Thanks for being my friend!!
annejisca --You've been through a lot in your life and to see you live victoriously for Christ is a huge encouragement to me! I am so excited to see your little family grow! I know you will make a great mother!
annethecatannethecat is way too funny! =D
annethecat a good friend. Thank you, Anne, for your funny stories of what happens at the M. house. It seems like you post them just when I need it!
arcticfidelityarcticfidelity, blessings to you and Johanna. You seem like a great guy with a lot of intelligence and deep thoughts, as well as a good sense of humor.
ashley27nicoleashley27nicole, thanks for being my friend. Thanks for your support and understanding. Keep hanging in there even when the going gets tough. I know God has plans for you. Thanks for being a friend to me and for understanding me so well.
asourceofjoyThanks for doing this, Abigail! I'll start with you....You are an encouragement and joy whenever you post, sharing Bible verses, thoughts, and fun pictures! I really appreciate you!
asourceofjoy can be summed up by three words: woman of God. When I think of people who radiate love and passion for the Saviour, I think of her.
I'd like to thank asourceofjoy for hosting this and encouraging us to encourage our friends! It's a wonderful idea; esp. for this time of year. :) Abigail, thank you for being a true Source of Joy by continually pointing us to our Heavenly Father!
asourceofjoy-Thank you for doing this! and thank you for always causing us to look upward and onward to the One who gets all the glory. I can't tell you how many times you've encouraged me in my walk.
You ,dearest Abigail are full of love,joy,faith,paitence and most importantly the Saviour.I thank God for you,you are truly asourceofjoy! I love you dearheart....
asourceofjoy to a girl who is very close to my heart... I thank you for sharing so much of your life with us all. You are an inspiration and it encourages me to see you grow in the LORD. You are precious. Thanks for being my friend. <3
asourceofjoy is a great example of a Godly older sister. I am always challenged by her posts and outlook on life. It's just like her to start a post about encouragement after facing disappointments this past week. Abigail always seems to be able to look on the bright side of things, even though she goes through tough times just like the rest of us! What a blessing to know her!!
That's Abigail - an encourager all the way through (life and personality ;))!
asourceofjoy is such a good friend! She really counts it a privilege to pray for me and has been such an encouragement to me. Keep looking up... God is doing Great Things for you which you don't even know about yet!
asourceofjoy, like so many others here on Lj, you are always such an example to me of Christan maturity. THANK YOU for truely being a source of joy and living up to your name. You have been an AWESOME blessing to my life, over the years that I've known you.
asourceofjoy Your Hidden Wisdom is the best! Thank you so much for publishing it!
Abigail, you are a blessing too! I enjoy reading your posts, even if I don't take the time to comment. Keep being a blessing, you are a joy to know, even if it is just through LJ! :)
asourceofjoy Thank you for publishing HW and for being such a huge encouragement to so many people.
bellawilferbellawilfer writes just as I'd imagine she'd speak--so fun and forthright and fresh.
bephoctbephoct is an inspiration as a friend and follower of the Lord!
bellawilferbellawilfer, sngergirl01, and wistfulmaid are my fellow "what am I doing?!" friends. I wish we could all get together and hash it out, in real life.
benjaminparrishbenjaminparrish Thanks for being such a great friend!
bethanyrbbethanyrb Bethany, I think you're one of the most inspirational
people I've ever known. You are constantly involved in ministry and you stay very busy! And yet, you stay focused on the Lord through it all. Maybe, someday, I can hear your beautiful harp playing..... wouldn't that be fun?
You're one of the few families I know here on LJ that have a bigger family than me and I love it! The bigger the better right? *grin* It's been a lot of fun "peeking" into your life! and I can't forget your sister.... fotosdefamilia Charity, thank you for all the family photos!! and I esp. thank you for the English. I'm very Portuguese illiterate. =P
bethanyrb-Your heart for missions and what you want to do with your life is amazing! I can tell that your drive for what you do comes from the Lord.
bethanyrb, you are such a sweet testimony of the Lord at work. Your servant attitude is very inspiring and God will bless you much through that. Thanks for being the sweet friend you are. I love you!
bethanyrb is an example of generosity and thoughtfulness, and her enthusiasm makes me smile. Keep shining, Bethany! God has good plans for your life.
brotherbear4godbrotherbear4god's joy in the Lord is contagious, and he's more of an inspiration to others than he realizes. God IS using you in a big way - hold fast!
catatinan_maidNatalie (catatinan_maid), thank you for being there for me, for praying for me, and for being a precious part of my life.
catatinan_maid Natalie, I want to thank you for sharing you heart with us on YLCF and other websites and magazines. Thank you for all the effort you've put into YLCF. Thank you for letting us be a part of your life.
I'm so happy and excited for you that you're married to such a wonderful, Godly man. You deserve the best!
Thank you for your encouraging, thought-provoking words. You're an amazing writer and I've learned so much for you.
God Bless you as you continue to walk with Him. ♥
catatinan_maid -There's not much else to say but to say that your life has been a living example for me. It gives me hope for the future and courage to continue on as the Lord leads.
It's been special to watch catatinan_maid mature into a beautiful woman of God, and I'm so happy to see how God brought her and Rick together. I can't wait to see what big plans God has in store for her future!
catherinerachelcatherinerachel To a girl who shines for Jesus, thank you! Thank you for your sweet example, you are an encouragement. You shine through your wise choices, modest dress and love for others. Keep on keepin' on!
catherinerachel Catherine is a wonderful person. I'm proud to know her.
cdaisy113cdaisy113 is an amazing example of steadfastness through countless trials... she's such a great mom to Wesley and Savannah! I'm so blessed by her blog.
channahgracechannahgrace, I never imagined when I met you here that you would become such a dear friend to me!! Thank you for your friendship, your love and support. You are such a dear friend to me and I thank God for you. Your precious and sweet spirit shines brightly. I love you!
channahgrace is in nursing school. That in itself means she's pretty amazing! She loves God, and He will see her through everything!
chasnlndsychasnlndsy brightens my days with her beautiful photographs of her children.
chocolate_efailright and chocolate_e are such a precious pair of sisters. I'm so glad I got to spend time with them in October and make some memories I will never forget. :-D
chocolate_e is just so much fun. Can't wait to see what God has in store for her future - it'll be amazing.
clfullerclfuller, keep trusting and allowing God to use your writing for His kingdom. Your writing has blessed me. Thanks for allowing God to use you in this way!
clfuller is so mature. It is going to be a real advantage to her!
completeinhimcompleteinhim, you too are an example to me of maturity and showing genuine love to others. Thank you for your sweet and humble spirit that shows through your journal.
completeinhim has been a wonderful example to me in many areas. Thanks for your humility and compassion and honesty, Jess! God has used you to touch many lives, and He will continue to guide your steps.
completeinhim is shining light of Christ's love. She is funny. She is passionate for Christ above all else, even when the path is clouded. She is a dear friend and I pray we will always remain close.
It's so exciting to see completeinhim living a life of adventure!
I love completeinhim! Our friendship has developed and changed in so many different ways over the time we've known each other, but she is the sweetest, truest friend a gal could ever ask for. Love you, Jess!
countrymaidencountrymaiden seems so candid and down-to-earth, yet very feminine and classy. I enjoy her occasional posts about her daily life. *smiles*
countrymaiden, your faith and testimony is a blessing. Though you are years younger than me, you are such an example to me. Keep trusting!
I wish I was as mature as countrymaiden is, when I was her age. It's encouraging to see God at work in her life.
countrymaiden Thanks for being a friend...I love your humble, cheerful attitude!
Countrymaiden, I am blessed to know you irl. You are a sweet girl and a blessing to know. I have enjoyed watching you grow, may you continue to be a blessing to others and grow in the knowledge of the Lord.
cranekecraneke's thoughtfulness and honesty and humor is a blessing to see. Keep shining!
I completely agree! Kelly is one of the most amazing people I know - able to accomplish SO much. She also loves her husband and makes an excellent wife. I'm glad to know her!
dak_juneauI really appreciate dak_juneau's friendship, and his desire to encourage others even though he's facing a lot of discouraging situations himself. God's used him to bring a smile to my face many times. Keep pressing on!
delightinginhimdelightinginhim is a true jewel,I just love her as my own sister and would love to meet her one day!
Jaclynn and Samantha... You both are SO sweet and SO encouraging!! You leave countless upbeat and positive comments (I've seen them on many journals, not just on my own!) and are always so happy when good things come to your friends. You are both the MOST encouraging LJers I know... I hope others step up to encourage you when you need it, too! :) Thanks for being my friends. :)
delightinginhim and joyfullyhis are some of the sweetest, most encouraging and caring friends I've ever had.
Jaclynn (delightinginhim), you are such a sweet girl. Thank you for your sweet example and friendship. I appreciate your loving concern, support and love to me. You have such a sweet and wise attitude and I love you very much.
joyfullyhis & delightinginhim, your faithful comments are always such a blessing, that no matter how stupid of a post it may have seemed to me the next day, you both have something nice to comment about :P. Seriously though, you've been such an example to me of showing that you value a person, simply by listening and being there to encourage. Thank you!!
delightinginhim is such an incredible encourager! She displays such a genuine interest in others' lives and inspires me to be more thoughtful and attentive to others.
delightinhim,your encouraging nature is such a blessing to me! When I am down, you are always there to cheer me up. Thank you!
I appreciate how delightinginhim tries to be open and share what's on her mind. She is always striving to learn more, and to seek for Christ to have the best place in her life. She always leaves sweet and encouraging comments. Everything she says is so real and heart felt. I am thankful for the opportunity to be her friend. =)
dynamitedovedynamitedove is ADORABLE!!!
elljayceeelljaycee seems like such a special, fun gal. I wish we could meet in person, because I'm sure we'd have a grand time. :D
elljaycee You have such a sweet, gentle nature. Its so much fun just being around you! You truly are a blessing to me. keep singing and praising the Lord!
I am so thankful for elljaycee.
elvishcalarilmeelvishcalarilme, I love you! Thank you for sharing your life with me. Keep up the good work with your photography and keep shining for Jesus. Thank you for being my friend, I have been so blessed by you!
emily25069Emily25069 -- she's my "older sister" role model! I'm priviledged to be on her friend's list.
enna_ablaenna_abla isn't on LJ any more, but she's still a special friend. God's used her in my life in countless ways, and I'm thankful we've been able to share this journey of life with each other. Keep pressing on, my friend!
I agree! God is with you, Helen... working in you and for you as you press toward Him!
erikaerinerikaerin is like my oldest sister. So cool,awesome and funny and always looking to the Lord. She is also very sweet,almost as much as me! Love ya girl!!!
esther_joyesther_joy Esther, I miss you but think of you often. I'm glad you've been able to post every now and then and with pictures too. :)
I don't know where you are in life right now or how you've really been, but please know that I am praying for you and thinking of you. You're like an older sister to me.
Keep Trusting in the Lord!!
((hugs))
eve_bluemeadowseve_bluemeadows You are a precious friend, and a kindred spirit! <3 you. :)
everydayjoyI love EverydayJoy's outlook on life. It's like the first rain of spring that lets the flowers know it's time to open! I also love her enthusiasm for words. I suspect we're kindred spirits, though I haven't gotten down there yet to visit her and find out for sure. ;-)
everydayjoy is positively indescribable. Some guy is going to be super majorly blessed to discover her one of these days - she's a gem! I'm so thankful for her friendship and the way she always points me up to Jesus.
everydayjoy What a joy you are! A delight to be around.I love how spontaneous you can be. One never knows what to expect! (in a good way!) And yet, you know how to be serious too. Thanks for pointing others to Christ!
excelsorexcelsor Jennie, your adventerous spirit inspires me :)
I'm fairly certain that whatever you put your mind to do, you will succeed.
Keep following the Lord and enjoy the "ride". :) May all your dreams come true!!
God Bless and I love you!
excelsor-On fire for God and a heart for others is what clearly shines through you!
failrightfailright and chocolate_e are such a precious pair of sisters. I'm so glad I got to spend time with them in October and make some memories I will never forget. :-D
failright is so amazing - incredibly talented, spiritually mature, and so much fun besides. She even has a bigger vocabulary than I do. ;) I wish we could see each other more, but I'm thankful for the time God has given us.
formykingformyking is one of my closest friends and is always a blessing to me.
formyking, you have been such a special friend to me and such an encouragment. You truely have a gentle and quiet spirit and it's so evident in your life. THANK YOU!
formyking has been such an inspiration and encouragement to me over the years! I miss her posts on LJ, but appreciate her desire to keep her priorities where they have to be. Keep trusting Jesus, Cheri! He IS at work in every area of your life, and will make it all into something very beautiful.
fotosdefamiliafotosdefamilia Charity, thank you
for all the family photos!! and I esp. thank you for the English. I'm very Portuguese illiterate. =P
go4godgo4god Christina, I just wanted to encourage you today to keep walking with God, live for Him and don't compromise! I hope that your school is going well and God is showing you which path He wants you to take.
Praying for you!! *hugs*
gracegirlgracegirl First of all, thank you for hosting the "Girlfriend Nights" They've been SO MUCH FUN and encouraging to me. I know you probably don't know me that well but I feel like I know you fairly well because of reading all your writings over the years.... in various magazines and online. :) You're an "older sister" figure to me and I can't truly express how much that has menat to me. I still remember reading your Brother/Sister article in The King's Daughter and what an impact that had on me at the time. I read and re-read yours and Timothy's words of wisdom...... thank you. Keep walking with the Lord and abiding with Him!! *hugs*
gracegirl is such a blessing to me! Now that we are in our second decade of friendship (doesn't that make us sound old?!) I can say that I value you more with each experience that we have to grow together and encourage each other. Thank you, Jana!
Dear Jana (gracegirl), Dreams do come true. Keep trusting your dreams to the one who does exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ever imagine. I love you, my friend!
gracegirl, thank you SO much for your example to me of faithfulness to God and those whom you serve. Thank you for your constant giving - it blesses me!
Another old friend of Jana's checking in here. It seems like gracegirl and I have grown up together, having been friends since our late teens. It's been such a blessing to share the journey, and and I can't wait to see what God has in store for the years ahead. It'll be GOOD.
gretchenlouisegretchenlouise is such an adorable wife and mommy! She has her priorities in the right place, and I know God will continue to bless their little family in the years ahead.
gretchen_louise I'm so happy for you, Gretchen... you have a wonderful husband Merritt and a beautiful daughter- Ruth Ann. Thank you for doing the YLCF website and encouraging and inspiring so many young ladies across the world. Thank you for your writings, your photos, and all the effort you've put into our lives. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
grits03grits03 LeAnne, It's been great emailing and writing and LJ-ing with each other. You're a lot like me, we even have similiar jobs. We're the oldest in our families.... we have the same amount of siblings even! And we're both struggling with future plans..... *sigh* But it's great to not have to go alone, isn't it? It's wonderful to know you aren't the only one, right? I want to encourage you to keep Trusting in the Lord, keep asking Him where you should go and what you should do. He will show you!!
Now, feel free to remind me of that too, okay? *grin* Love you! ♥ *hugs*
grits03 - It's been great fun getting to know you better. And to find another kindred spirit! God bless you in whatever you choose to do!