Whatever Is Excellent with Leanne Tuggle

What if the most powerful ministry tool you have isn't your knowledge, talent, or resources, but simply your willingness to open your front door? 

This heartfelt exploration of hospitality reveals the profound difference between cultural entertaining (which seeks to impress) and biblical hospitality (which aims to bless).

Through compelling contrasting scenarios of friend visits, we see how our focus dramatically shapes others' experiences in our homes. When we apologize for our "mess" or fret about presentation, we create discomfort. When we simply welcome people warmly and focus entirely on them, meaningful connection flourishes. The transformation happens not through fancy preparations but through a simple shift in perspective: hospitality isn't about you.

Jesus provides our ultimate model for this practice. From dining with outcasts to washing disciples' feet at the Last Supper, His hospitality never centered on impressive settings but on making people feel valued and loved. Biblical hospitality sees our homes as ministry tools where people experience God's love in action. It's less about perfect baseboards and more about perfect presence.

We explore practical ways to cultivate this hospitality: making intentional space in our schedules, embracing simplicity, involving children in the practice, extending hospitality beyond our physical spaces, and overcoming the perfectionism that keeps our doors closed. Remember, nobody notices your mess unless you point it out! As Easter approaches, let this be your invitation to prepare not just your home but your heart to welcome others just as Christ has welcomed you.

Ready to transform your gatherings? Start by focusing less on how your home looks and more on how your guests feel. The difference will be life-changing—for them and for you.

Recommended Reading:

The Gospel Comes with a House Key by Rosaria Butterfield

Practicing The Way by John Mark Comer

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

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The moment I collapsed from exhaustion at my high school homecoming dance should have been my wake-up call. As a determined overachiever balancing academics, ballet, relationships, and faith, I had created an unsustainable rhythm that left me physically depleted. That night, friends caught me before I hit the floor – a perfect snapshot of how disordered patterns of work and rest can literally bring us to our knees.

What I've discovered since then has transformed my understanding of productivity and rest. Work isn't a punishment – it existed in Eden before sin entered the world. God placed Adam and Eve in the garden "to work it and watch over it," giving them purposeful, meaningful tasks as part of paradise. Likewise, rest isn't an indulgence but a divine pattern established by God himself, who rested on the seventh day and declared it holy.

Our modern struggle with balance often stems from self-imposed pressure amplified by technology. We feel compelled to respond to work messages at all hours, convinced our success depends on constant availability. Yet when I finally established proper boundaries after having twins, I discovered I could still be successful without sacrificing my family or burning myself out. The key was challenging the assumption that productivity equals worth and embracing Jesus's invitation: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Ready to find better rhythms in your home? Start by setting clear boundaries between work and family time. Consider establishing a weekly Sabbath, even if it's just an afternoon of intentional rest. Look for small moments of renewal throughout your day. Remember – rest isn't laziness but a profound act of faith, acknowledging that God is God and you are not. What would change if you trusted Him with both your productivity and your rest this week?

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

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Looking at your phone first thing in the morning instead of your Bible? Arriving at destinations with no memory of how you got there? These automatic behaviors reveal the hidden power of habits—routines that shape our lives while operating beneath our conscious awareness.

The small, daily decisions we make gradually determine our life's trajectory. As Scripture reminds us, "The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom." But wisdom isn't cultivated through occasional grand gestures—it's built through consistent, seemingly insignificant choices that accumulate over time. Just as a pilot adjusting course by 3.5 degrees eventually lands hundreds of miles from the intended destination, our tiny habit adjustments create massive life changes, for better or worse.

When examining habits that may be leading us astray, the process begins with awareness. Track patterns in your day, especially during moments of frustration. Identify triggers, pause before responding automatically, and replace unhelpful habits with life-giving alternatives. Something as simple as switching from a phone alarm to a traditional alarm clock can transform chaotic mornings into peaceful devotional time—proving that seemingly minor changes can radically reshape our days and, ultimately, our character. As we embrace this journey of habit evaluation and revision, we're invited to choose grace over guilt, aiming to become just 1% better each time rather than perfect all at once. Remember, "It's the little things that establish a life. Build a wise one, one habit at a time." Ready to examine one habit this week that might be silently directing your days?

Recommended Books:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley

The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
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Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

Discovering your identity in Christ creates a foundation that everything else builds upon. Just as I learned that ballet discipline transfers to other dance styles, I've found that knowing who you are in Christ creates the solid foundation needed for all relationships, including marriage.

The uncertainty of your twenties brings overwhelming questions about career, purpose, relationships, and God's will. When facing these crossroads, I discovered that drawing near to God reveals who I am in Him. This identity isn't tied to success, career, or relationship status—it's anchored in being a child of God, redeemed by Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. A "Christian's Birthright Card" my father gave me, filled with scriptural "I am" statements, became my anchor through difficult decisions.

Understanding Psalm 37:4 transformed my perspective on singleness. When we truly align with God, His desires become our desires. I visualize this as a triangle: when both potential partners pursue God at the apex, they naturally draw closer to each other. While waiting for God's timing, I focused on deepening my relationship with Him and developing my calling. This foundation of security in Christ—not in worldly validation—became precisely what attracted my husband. As a military officer, he needed someone whose strength came from something unchanging, especially during deployments. I boldly told him early in our relationship that he would always be my "second love" after Jesus—and after the initial shock, he recognized this was exactly what he needed in a wife. Whether God has marriage in your future or not, complete surrender to Him prepares you for whatever comes next. Your relationship with Jesus is a full and complete life—let Him be your number one and trust Him to choreograph your next steps.

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
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Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

What if the key to creative excellence wasn't perfection but courage?

Professional cellist-turned-business coach Ina-Wilme reveals transformative insights on unlocking your creative potential while maintaining excellence in both business and motherhood.

After spending seven months meticulously crafting a course that initially earned less than $1,000, Ina learned a pivotal lesson that changed everything: "When you create before you're ready, you get the answers to the test." Her journey from classical musician to entrepreneurial coach demonstrates that real growth happens when we stop waiting for perfection and start creating with and for our audience.

For mother entrepreneurs struggling to balance creative pursuits with family life, Ina offers a refreshing perspective: "My work is a break from being a mom, and being a mom is a break from my work." This mindset shift transforms what could feel like constant demands into complementary roles that energize rather than deplete. Through her "CEO-executor-mom" daily rhythm, she demonstrates how structured boundaries can maximize productivity while preserving quality family time.

Drawing powerful parallels between music and business, Ina distinguishes between excellence and perfectionism. Like a musician who must play many notes rather than perfecting just one, entrepreneurs must embrace quantity alongside quality. "If you have ideas but don't publish them, what's the point of having them in the first place?" she challenges. Using the farming analogy of planting 700 million seeds knowing only 40% will survive, Ina encourages creators to sow abundantly with courage rather than sparingly with fear.

Ready to move past creative blocks? Discover Ina's practical "next action model" for identifying your immediate next step without overwhelming yourself. Connect with her on Instagram @Ina.Wilme to continue exploring how music principles can transform your creative process and business growth.

Interested in working with Ine? Click the link below to get on her list for the next workshop:

Find YOUR Million Dollar Idea Workshop with Ine-Wilme

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
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Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

Can your thoughts influence the way you handle things like anxiety?

This episode dives deep into the complexities of women's mental health, especially concerning anxiety and worry that many face due to societal pressures and expectations. We unravel the science behind why women are more prone to anxiety, considering research by notable figures like Jonathan Haidt and Leonard Sax that highlights the alarming trends affecting adolescent girls.

Our discussion shifts to the importance of recognizing negative thought patterns, such as catastrophizing and overgeneralizing, which can contribute significantly to anxiety. Discover practical strategies for rewiring your mind for positivity, along with the transformative role faith plays in our emotional lives. Ultimately, we emphasize the need for community support and encourage open conversations about mental health struggles. Let this episode serve as a reminder that just as the sea otter glides above the crashing waves, we too can learn to navigate life’s storms with grace and resilience. 

Don't forget to subscribe and share your thoughts on this episode!

Recommended Reading: 

Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Girls on the Edge by Leonard Sax

Raising Worry Free Girls by Sissy Goff

Braver, Stronger, Smarter: A Girl's Guide to Overcoming Worry & Anxiety by Sissy Goff

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

What does it mean to truly embrace the unique design for women as envisioned through a biblical lens? 

Join me on a heartfelt journey as we honor Women's History Month and International Women's Day, reflecting on the divine attributes instilled in women, from strength and grace to wisdom and gentleness. Amid these reflections, I share a personal story about giving birth to twin boys on International Women's Day and the responsibility it brings to raise them with respect for and an understanding of women's value. We celebrate the inspiring qualities of biblical figures like Esther, Deborah, and Mary, whose courage and faith exemplify God's beautiful design for femininity. 

Throughout this episode, we also examine the contrasting paths of egalitarian and maternal feminism, exploring how each has sought to uplift women's rights in their own way. Discover the virtues of an exemplary woman, whose industrious nature and balance of household and business acumen highlight the strength and dignity that define her character. Her life's impact resonates beyond her family to the broader community, embodying values of inner character over external allure. Uncover the importance of cherishing these divine roles, even as we navigate the complexities of modern feminism and its interpretations. May you be encouraged by this enriching conversation that celebrates the unique and divine design for women as part of God's eternal plan.

Recommended Reading:

Mama Bear Apologetics edited by Hillary Morgan Ferrer

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

Ever felt like you're fighting an uphill battle with habits that seem impossible to shake? 

Join me as I recount my recent personal health journey. I share how participating in a challenge initially broke my chain of unhealthy eating habits, only for them to return with a heavier emotional toll. Discover the rollercoaster of emotions and self-doubt that accompanied my quest for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, especially during the stress of motherhood and real life. Through candid reflections, I reveal how the key to overcoming these struggles lay in surrendering to a strength greater than my own.

The episode delves into the profound reassurance that comes from understanding we are beautifully and wonderfully made, known intimately before birth by God. I discuss the shift in perspective that made all the difference for me to finally overcome health related hurdles. This is personal and raw and vulnerable. And it is freeing to be able to share what I have learned with you. 

Listen until the end with a recitation of Psalm 139 from some very special guests to help anchor you this week.

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

Have you ever watched children on a field trip and marveled at the mix of chaos and wonder? 

Reflecting on such an experience, I unravel the challenges and triumphs of parenting, particularly the intricate art of teaching obedience and surrender to God. Through relatable stories and biblical narratives, I examine the human tendency toward rebellion and the illusion of control, reminding parents that while they guide, they aren't the gatekeepers of their children's salvation. Proverbs 22:6 is highlighted as a wise observation rather than a promise, steering the conversation toward nurturing a heart of obedience and faithfulness over mere behavioral compliance.

In our journey through parenting, we can draw a vivid analogy of a fenced backyard, teaching us how boundaries can actually create a sense of freedom. From this perspective, we explore how equipping children with the full armor of God, as detailed in Ephesians 6, can cultivate spiritual resilience and growth. The goal isn't just to raise "good kids," but to develop discerning followers of Christ who choose righteousness even when no one is watching. Through prayer and spiritual guidance, we aim to empower children to stand firm in their faith, embracing truth, righteousness, and salvation as their shields against life's challenges. Join me as we strive to foster a confident identity in Christ for the next generation.

Recommended Reading:

Gospel Mom by Emily Jensen & Laura Wifler

Little Pilgrim's Progress by Helen L. Taylor

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again. 

What happens when a Navy meteorologist navigates the storms and calms of marriage? 

Join us for an intimate conversation with my husband, Chris Tuggle, as we share our journey from a blind date at a San Francisco Giants game to a 12-year marriage built on love, laughter, and faith. Chris recalls how he never needed his backup list of conversation topics that day, setting the stage for a relationship characterized by genuine connection and shared values.

In our discussion, we unpack the challenges and rewards of prioritizing love amidst life's demands through a Christian lens. Chris and I explore how understanding and speaking each other's love languages have kept our partnership strong and resilient. By trusting in Jesus and grounding our marriage in faith, we’ve learned to navigate inevitable disappointments and avoid unrealistic expectations, ensuring our relationship thrives even in the toughest times.

As we reflect on our marriage's evolution, we emphasize the crucial roles of communication and spiritual alignment. Transitioning from reliance on parents to forming an independent family unit has tested us, but open dialogue and shared goals have been our anchors. By aligning our paths and keeping Christ at the center, we continue to support and uplift each other, hoping to inspire listeners with insights and encouragement for their own marriages.

Connect with me!
You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at [email protected]. I love hearing from you!

Would you like more weekly encouragement? Subscribe to my newsletter Whatever is Lovely and be inspired to open your inbox again.
https://leannetuggle.myflodesk.com/v3r2zwdaik

If this is your first time here and this episode resonated, hit “subscribe” and submit a 5-star rating if you feel genuinely inspired to. Your positive feedback means the world to me!

Episode Sponsors:
Rodan + Fields - Take this brief quiz to find your customized skincare routine!

Whatever is Lovely - Subscribe here to the weekly newsletter designed to encourage you with words of wisdom and relatable content. Be inspired to open your inbox again.