“Don’t corral others to meet your needs.”
“Choose to be a servant.”
“Give yourself away.”
If you’re interviewing a guy who wears the title “Chief Encouragement Officer” like a banner, you can expect to hear lots of sentences like these. Here’s another one: “The goal is to get small and, in humility, to build others up.”
And any of these could be the mission statement for David “JB” Miller or for the Life Letter Cafe, the on-line ministry he has founded based on the truth that God chooses to invest deeply into the lives of those who pour themselves into others.
With 200+ bloggers sharing their work at The Cafe, it has become a well-spring of encouragement for readers, and, as one of the bloggers, I can say with certainty that Life Letter Cafe also encourages the writers who share their words in that friendly space.
When I asked David about a favorite Scripture, he immediately shared Proverbs 11:25b:
“Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”
This is a principle that reverberates throughout the Bible. In fact, I checked out Biblical usage of the word “refreshed” using Blue Letter Bible and found it has been used seven times, and it carries the positive sense of being comforted, strengthened, or established. According to the Old Testament, refreshment can come in various ways:
- Genesis and the Song of Solomon both speak of food that provides refreshment.
- In Psalm 68:9, rain refreshes a weary land.
- Proverbs 3:22 and 25:13 declare that wisdom, discretion, and a trustworthy messenger refresh like snow in the summer or like jewels on a necklace.
- Then, in the New Testament, Peter the faithful messenger and carrier of wisdom to the recipients of his second letter reminds his readers that he is trying to refresh their memory and to stimulate wholesome thinking.
Food for the soul, wisdom for living, a faithful message, and living water for those who thirst are key to the refreshment provided at Life Letter Cafe, and the ministry is expanding. In our era of virtual gatherings, naturally there is no brick and mortar involved, and, frankly, I am the last person who should be explaining this expansion because I only just barely understand the back side of my own blog, but here’s the goal:
1. Rebuild the Life Letter Cafe with the capacity for 500 guest contributors;
2. Build participation from the current 50 thousand monthly readers to 100 thousand;
3. Offer several new services and leverage increased influence for the purpose of contributing financially to the rescue of the unborn.
David and his team are still in the early stages of planning and praying their way through this process. You can read more detail about the project here or explore the SmashFund crowd funding tool that is just now getting underway.
And while you’re busy pondering all this goodness, how is your soul being refreshed these days?
Have you passed the refreshment along to another?
//
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I link-up with a number of blogging communities on a regular basis. They are listed in the left sidebar by day of the week. I hope that you will take a moment to enjoy reading the work of some of these fine writers and thinkers.
I’ve not heard of the Life Letter Cafe, but it sounds intriguing. Thanks for sharing, Michele!
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Lisa, your writing would be a great addition to the cafe. You should look into it.
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Michele, I love this interview with David from Life Letter Café! It always amazes me how he finds new and creative ways to encourage all his 200+ Life Writers…I know he truly is the Chief Encouragement Officer to me since I joined the team a couple of years ago. Many blessings that others will find out about Life Letter Café and want to join the team and support the new expansion! Many blessings to you!
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That is my hope, Beth, and I’m no “promotional” expert, but wanted to put the message out there about why the cafe exists and what they hope to do in the future.
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Michele,
I found this post really close to my heart ❤
Proverbs 11:25b: “Those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Is a life-verse for me to. It is my purpose in life to refresh others. Thanks for sharing and I'm going to check out this Life Letter Cafe.
Have a blessed weekend!
~Sherry
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Sherry, I’m sure you’ll be blessed there – and you may want to become a writer for them!
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Michele, you are one of the best encouragers I know! You are such a blessing to me and to many others, I am sure. Thank you for being so faithful.
Many blessings to you!
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It’s so great that you’re taking on the 31 day challenge!
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I have only seen the Life Letter Cafe logo. I’m going to have to go over and have a look around. Thanks, Michele, for sharing with Thankful Thursdays.
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You should look into becoming a Life Writer.
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It’s lovely having such a close like-minded community with the Letter Life Cafe.
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I love the title “Chief Encouragement Officer” and the verse from Proverbs. I will have to check out Life Letter Cafe.
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Michele,
I had never heard of Life Letter Cafe…will have to check it out. Of course nothing refreshes like being in the Word, but next to that a kind word spoken to me by a person I love is good for my soul. I don’t know a single person who isn’t refreshed by a kind word aptly spoken.
Blessings,
Bev
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Thanks, Bev, for your kind words, shared so freely!
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I love seeing the faces of so many of my friends pop up over there.
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You should definitely join the party!
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Sounds like an excellent ministry, Michele!
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Thanks Michelle. I’ve never heard of Life Letter Cafe.
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I have never heard of Life Letter Cafe, so I am excited to click over and check them out! Thanks so much for sharing about them!
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Happy reading! It’s a great community of encouragement!
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I love the Life Letter Cafe! I was just asked to contribute there last week. Love what they are doing. Love your post too!!
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Thanks for reading, Lauren — and for your kind words.
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Michele- I’m a new Life Writer and David certainly does refresh me throughout the day. I might be questioning this whole writing thing, and up pops a tweet with my name attached. A little chant of encouragement to remember who I am working for. God needs people spreading hope, especially now.
You explained the whole smash fund and expansion better than I could;)
Blessings to you!
Julie
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HA! Thanks for your reassurance. Honestly, if it were possible to blog without ever touching a computer, I’d be a happy girl. And, yes, the cafe is a source of real encouragement for us all. Thanks, Julie, for your words of blessing that come so often!
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I’ve known about Life Letter Cafe for a while now, but I haven’t had a chance to really dive in and check it out. I will definitely be taking the time to visit soon!
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Good for you! You’ll find lots of interesting writing and will probably recognize several of the writers.
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I love that you highlighted Life Letter cafe. It is a beautiful community and David is a gem. His heart for building others up is a wonderful example to all. Glad I dug a little bit to see what else you have been writing recently.
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I just love it when you visit, Mary. Maybe someday we’ll get to have one of our visits in real life and real time!
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I am glad you were my neighbor today over at Jaime’s place! I really am excited God has brought Life Letter into our paths, and I pray mighty things will come out of this faithful work! Thanks so much for sharing more about it, Michele!
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Yes, definitely a community of encouragement!
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