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You Don't Have To Be Perfect Podcast with Vanessa Luu

You Don't Have To Be Perfect Podcast with Vanessa Luu

By Vanessa Luu

You Don't Have to Be Perfect is an authentic space to talk about life in truth and love.

This podcast started as a resource for recovering perfectionists but has expanded into a place for all to come and be themselves and share their struggles and victories, giving God glory.

The You Don’t Have to Be Perfect Podcast has been described as, Uplifting, Food for the soul, Reassuring, truth-telling, positive, vulnerable, life-changing, real, and a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m so glad you’re here. I hope you’ll share this space with a friend!
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Bible Study Tips!

You Don't Have To Be Perfect Podcast with Vanessa LuuOct 28, 2020

00:00
35:37
Is It Possible to Eat Healthily in 2024?
Mar 27, 202414:10
Nitty Gritty Bible Questions EP.1
Mar 22, 202405:39
Breaking Lent with Coffee

Breaking Lent with Coffee


Realizing that I go out for coffee too often is a good thing, and I will continue to address it with God. I know He will be faithful in guiding me through this earthly journey, but I also realized today that my practice of Lent this year was legalistic and, therefore, futile. These discoveries don't mean I'm against Lent, but knowing that God never commanded us to observe Lent is important. Knowing this causes me to pause and dig deeper.


Mar 15, 202410:23
Should We Think Big or Small When it Comes to God?
Feb 16, 202410:13
Power and Influence
Feb 09, 202431:42
The Wilderness Remains (Pt.2)

The Wilderness Remains (Pt.2)

Chapter 22 of The Wilderness Remains covers commandments 6-10 of Exodus 20. Enjoy!

Feb 03, 202412:47
The Wilderness Remains

The Wilderness Remains

Chp 21 of The Wilderness Remains covers the first 5 commandments! :)

Feb 02, 202418:03
Afraid of Losing it All

Afraid of Losing it All

Inside today’s podcast I have with me, Charlene Warren. Charlene is an artist, writer, Author coach, and mother. Through various struggles in her life, she has found her calling…helping creatives fight through things like fear, doubt, and self-sabotage to become who God designed them to be from the beginning.


Charlene thank you so much for coming back once again. I always love our conversations!


It’s a challenging task to embrace and be grateful for all of God’s goodness in your life while trying not to be afraid of losing it all.

Jan 31, 202432:60
Oh, What a Wonderful World it Would Be
Jan 17, 202404:58
Are We Praying Wrong?

Are We Praying Wrong?

Happy New Year friends! Here are some fun announcements!

  1. The You Don’t have to be Perfect Podcast is celebrating it’s 5th season. We are kicking off the new year with a brand new episode about prayer, are we praying wrong?
  2. You can still find me live on Instagram Monday-Friday at 9am Mountain Time for our Daily Bible Reading. 3 Years ago God whispered, read the Bible live. The big purpose was simple, to get the Word of God out across the world. But I want to elaborate on why that matters.
  3. Because God’s Word is powerful and posses the ability to change lives all by itself.
  4. If we want to follow Jesus we need to know His voice, especially in a world full of distractions and deception.
  5. To know God’s voice we must read His word. It is the foundation of our faith and without it we flounder. Without God’s Word we guess, and that won’t cut it on judgment day. Judgment day is real and spoken of all throughout the Bible and the words spoken about it come straight from God. Judgment day for some will be the worst terror beyond your imagination so you want to be on the right side of it, God’s side.
  6. We read the Bible to effectively fight the devil and all the evil that comes with Him. So let’s read my friends. Let’s hear what God has to say and most importantly, let’s obey!
  7. 3. I have a new book out, The Wilderness Remains! The Wilderness Remains will immerse you into the Exodus story with profound relatability, deepening your intimacy with the one true God along the journey. Grab your copy today In your favorite format! Kindle, Paperback or Hardback! I’m praising God for my 4th published book and have created a companion journal to enhance your study through Exodus.
  8. And God has confirmed that there will be more books in the future. Coming up next is not a Bible study but a book about what it feels like to follow Jesus in the real world.

I hope you’ll stick around for the next season of the You Don’t Have to Be Perfect podcast and I pray that it will nurture your soul as you continue your journey.

Jan 01, 202413:46
The Realist Talk on Faith and Fear
Dec 15, 202350:33
What If Jesus Isn't Who You Thought?

What If Jesus Isn't Who You Thought?

Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life. No one comes to the Father but through Him, so it's essential we know the True Jesus of the Bible.

Dec 13, 202311:38
Does the Way You Live Resemble the World?

Does the Way You Live Resemble the World?

Does the way you live resemble the world more than the Bible?


It's extremely easy to get swept away by pop culture and our rapid pace of life, but if you are in Christ, He has called us to live differently.


He doesn't leave it up to us to figure out how to live and navigate this life. He's written it all down for us, and His perfect way is beneficial to us!

Isaiah 48:17

This is what the LORD says—

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

"I am the LORD your God,

who teaches you what is good for you

and leads you along the paths you should follow.


The Bible is God's Word, and the Word is Jesus. To believe in Him is one thing. People often hold fast to John 3:16.

"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." They don't seem to pay attention to verses 17-18, which say, "God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him." There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son.

Believing in Jesus requires more than believing in His existence. Believing that He is your only means of redemption should lead you to follow His ways and obey Him. And we learn this from John 3:36, which says, "And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment."


So, how do we obey Jesus? First, we have to know Him. To know Him, we must read the Bible because the Word Is Jesus. It tells us this In John 1:1-5. We cannot hope to obey the ways of Jesus If we don't spend time with Him In His word.


Perhaps you are like many Christians today who know they should read their Bible but just can't seem to get Into It.


If that's you, I have something to offer.


God has called me to create resources for Christians to help them understand the Bible and draw closer to God. This came out of my own testimony with God's word. I used to not be able to connect until God told me that it was the only way to find the answers I sought for living this life. I asked Him to give me understanding, and He has, for a decade now, God has given me fresh eyes to understand His Word.


Any of my books will serve you as guides to understanding the Bible in a more practical way while deepening your intimacy with the one True God—the one who created you and has perfect plans for you.


You can find them all on Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/author/vanessaluu


I'll attach the link in the notes of this episode, but if you go to Amazon and search my name, VAnessa Luu, you will find my books.

My Titles consist of:

You Don't Have to Be Perfect

Truth and Tools

The Relevant Old Testament (vol 1)

And

The Wilderness Remains (vol. 2).

Those last two are part of my Old Testament Bible study series and will help you relate to the Old Testament better and know more of God's character.


I hope that you will hunger and thirst for the word of God and will make time in your busy life for Him.


God bless you.

Dec 07, 202308:36
I Didn't Know I Was an Artist!

I Didn't Know I Was an Artist!

Inside today’s podcast, I have with me DJ Hejtmanek. DJ has newly retired and now paints full-time. Her mixed media process has emerged and coalesced into mostly an abstract realism style including birds,(I’m sure you know I love that) animals, and portraits, as well as nonrepresentational abstracts. She’s moved from painting on her kitchen counter to an actual studio where she paints most days.


It was an honor and a privilege to interview an artist whose art hangs on my wall. You’ve seen it if you watch my live daily Bible readings. I know you will enjoy this episode with artist, DJ Hejtmanek!


Connect with her here!

Website: djhejt.com

IG: Instagram.com/djhejtmanek

FB: “I didn’t know I was an artist” - @djhejtmanek


Inside today’s podcast, I have with me DJ Hejtmanek. DJ has newly retired and now paints full-time. Her mixed media process has emerged and coalesced into mostly an abstract realism style including birds,(I’m sure you know I love that) animals, and portraits, as well as nonrepresentational abstracts. She’s moved from painting on her kitchen counter to an actual studio where she paints most days.


It was an honor and a privilege to interview an artist whose art hangs on my wall. You’ve seen it if you watch my live daily Bible readings. I know you will enjoy this episode with artist, DJ Hejtmanek!


Connect with her here!


Website: djhejt.com


IG: Instagram.com/djhejtmanek


FB: Facebook.com/djdovie

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu


To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

Oct 27, 202325:13
Embrace The Mundane
Oct 20, 202330:06
It's Never Too Late to Create
Oct 13, 202349:48
Is Everyone an Artist?
Oct 06, 202340:52
 Artist Series 2: Does God Care About Art?
Sep 22, 202351:38
Are Seasons of Mourning Good?

Are Seasons of Mourning Good?

Contrary to popular belief, God expects us to mourn. Did you know that? In Joel chapter 1, God gave Joel a devastating message to share with his people, expecting them to mourn. Until the day I started reading Joel, I had never realized that mourning was something God wanted us to do.


During devastating times, Christians are often told to find the positive and move on. I've often preached positivity to family and friends but have now reconsidered. I realize that mourning is a necessary part of the process intended to bring us to repentance, where God will restore us.


The desire to ignore sorrow and jump to the next high makes logical sense. Humans hate pain, but our avoidance of pain has created a new ugly in society and among the body of Christ. There's not a soul that enjoys feeling loss because, fundamentally, loss is traumatic. Loss changes us, but I'm entertaining the idea that if we allow ourselves the time and space to mourn, we might be closer to God and His unmatched power to restore.


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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu


To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

Sep 19, 202311:22
Artist Series: Do You Know the Character of God?

Artist Series: Do You Know the Character of God?

 Annie Weber. I looked through your book and am excited for fellow believers to read it! Your desire for your readers is the same as mine! You want others to know God better so that they can find a healthy awareness of the vast differences between living in the world and living for the Lord, and that is a message the masses need today! So let's talk a bit about Astounding Truths. You have it broken up into 4 parts: The character of God, God’s Desire for His People, Curious Parts of the Bible, and God Equips His people and I have to say, you’ve hit the nail on the head with these categories. God has my heart focused on these areas as well and even in this order! You’ve done a great job here. We MUST know the character of God even to begin living a life that pleases him.

Meet my guest:

Annie Weber Annie Weber Is a writer known for her uncompromising approach to sharing God’s Word.

She lives with a keen awareness of how the Truth of Scripture has led her to put her faith in Christ. She enjoys sharing her knowledge of the Bible by writing and speaking about God's Word in an easy-to-understand language. 

Her Book: Astounding Truths of the Bible: A bite-size journey towards understanding the worlds best selling book.

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu


To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 


Sep 15, 202317:58
Final, Why Do You Go to Church

Final, Why Do You Go to Church

In a time and culture that avoids commitment, it's impressive that people still attend church weekly. So what keeps them going?

We'll answer this question and more in the final episode of the Why Do You Go to Church series, on the You Don't Have to Be Perfect podcast.


I've attended a church service my entire life, and the reason has varied over the years, so I used the You Don't Have to Be Perfect podcast as a platform for this research. If you haven't listened to these interviews yet please do. It may give you insight into your own reasons for attending church.


In each interview, there were strong consistencies. For instance, most answered that they went to church for fellowship and to worship God.


From infancy through college, I attended a weekly church service (and usually one midweek). I genuinely loved being there. I loved the people, the singing, and the message of Christ's love. Oddly enough, I hadn't really cultivated a personal relationship with God yet. I heard people talk about it but wasn't really sure how to have it.


As a young mother, my personal relationship with God began to grow, and I knew what it meant to know Him intimately. Oddly enough, that's when I began to dislike attending church. If you don't know by now, I have practiced a perfectionistic way of thinking (my entire life), contributing to my dislike for church.


Perfectionists are known to find problems and quickly implement a plan to solve said problem so that the situation can be "perfect." I soon realized I couldn't fix the church no matter how hard I tried, leading to a weekly dread. As we'd creep closer to Sunday each week, I'd get increasingly uncomfortable, but I'd still go.


I continued to attend church to be obedient toward God and in support of my husband and children. "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (NIV)" -Hebrews 10:25. This verse specifically encouraged me to keep going and not give up even though I felt like I was in a congregation of pretenders. I know God is not fooled by those who pretend, but for some reason, they don't seem to realize that.


Jesus said that they would know we are Christians by our love. More specifically, He said, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." -John 13:35. All I saw were people functioning by worldly methods and calling it Christianity, or worse, love. I wasn't fooled. God has opened my eyes to who He is through the power of His Holy Word, and I could no longer be fooled.


I had gone to church with these people for almost twenty years, and I started wondering, why do they come? What do they believe about the church that has them showing up every week? 


As I began this series, my family and I began a beautiful transition that breathed fresh air into my soul. Amazingly, the series spanned from the beginning of that transition to where I am now: from California to Montana!


I enjoyed every interview and wanted to share some of my favorite parts. My guest Kandee shared that her favorite reason for attending church was to see what God was doing in people's lives because it encouraged her and spurred her on in her faith. I love that, and as we gather together in the Spirit, it should encourage and strengthen our faith. When you meet at the church to fellowship, do you feel encouraged?



Sep 09, 202311:12
Katie, Why Do You Go To Church?
Aug 25, 202319:11
Addicted to Busyness

Addicted to Busyness

The pace at which we live our lives is insane. It's unbelievable how busy we keep ourselves, whether believers or not. It's one of the ways the world has influenced us. We have been convinced that busyness, for the kingdom's sake, is not only okay but required, which is false.


Why is it so hard for us to rest if rest is necessary? It's because we are addicted to busyness, and like any addiction, it's hard to break even though it has little to no payout.


We stay busy so that we don't have to think or feel. We stay busy to synthesize a sense of purpose. We wear busyness as a badge of honor, and we all are worn out from it, but we can't seem to get off the never-ending merry-go-round. I know because I am stuck on this merry-go-round too. We stay busy because we're afraid of what will happen if we don't.


When you break it down, busyness is the sin of worry; busyness is a lack of trust. I know it's painful to hear because it's painful for me to write it out. Don't be downhearted, though; this painful truth doesn't mean we don't trust God at all. It means we are still being sanctified (a work in progress). We are still learning and growing. We can praise God for that!


I know that Jesus wants me to rest, to practice a Sabbath, a day set apart to sit with Him, worship Him, and let Him restore me for the next week to come, but I can't seem to give up all my work. I think if I could sincerely keep a true Sabbath, I probably wouldn't be so tired during the week. What do you think?

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE!

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu


To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

Aug 18, 202312:25
Roberta, why do you go to church?
Aug 04, 202330:10
Mia, why do you go to church?
Jul 08, 202316:31
Kylee, why do you go to church?
Jun 30, 202320:55
Melissa, why do you go to church?
Jun 23, 202322:18
Julie, Why do you go to church?
Jun 09, 202309:56
Blair, why do you go to church?
Jun 02, 202322:25
Jen, why do you go to church?
May 26, 202324:47
Why Do You Go to Church? Ep. 2

Why Do You Go to Church? Ep. 2

My guest today is Tricia Wahr.

Tricia Wahr is a long-time friend, wife, and mom of 7 kids who works in the financial sector! She enjoys coffee, spending time with her family, and being on the worship team at her church.

Questions: 1. What do you believe about Jesus? 

I believe Jesus is the Son of God. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one can come to the Father except through Jesus. He is the reason I live, and I want to honor and glorify Him in all I do. He loves greater than anyone I've ever known, and all His ways are good. He's the Creator of the Universe and everything in it. He's all-knowing, all-powerful, the forever high priest who has taken away the world's sins for those who accept Him. He's even more than everything I just said.

2. How long have you been attending church? I've been attending church since I was an infant. I loved growing up in the church; I felt surrounded by love and beauty. But that changed for me in my adult years. And it's one of the reasons I pose this question today. Why do you go to church? I'm excited to hear everyone's answers who are willing to speak up. I've wanted to ask this for a long time because I believe there are many who show up to church out of habit but don't really have an intentional reason for being there.

3. Why do you go to church? I used to go to church because I loved the people, the music and the teachings. Now I go to church out of obedience. Yes, I'm being very candid here because this podcast is about authenticity. I believe Christians today are doing church wrong. They are not meeting with the intentions that God laid out for us in the New Testament. I believe God is using me to help the church return to its intended purpose.

4. Do you enjoy attending? I used to, and hopefully I will enjoy it again.

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu


To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

May 19, 202324:31
Why Do you Go To Church? Ep. 1

Why Do you Go To Church? Ep. 1

Questions: 1. What do you believe about Jesus? 

I believe Jesus is the Son of God. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one can come to the Father except through Jesus. He is the reason I live, and I want to honor and glorify Him in all I do. He loves greater than anyone I've ever known, and all His ways are good. He's the Creator of the Universe and everything in it. He's all-knowing, all-powerful, the forever high priest who has taken away the world's sins for those who accept Him. He's even more than everything I just said.

2. How long have you been attending church? I've been attending church since I was an infant. I loved growing up in the church; I felt surrounded by love and beauty. But that changed for me in my adult years. And it's one of the reasons I pose this question today. Why do you go to church? I'm excited to hear everyone's answers who are willing to speak up. I've wanted to ask this for a long time because I believe there are many who show up to church out of habit but don't really have an intentional reason for being there.

3. Why do you go to church? I used to go to church because I loved the people, the music and the teachings. Now I go to church out of obedience. Yes, I'm being very candid here because this podcast is about authenticity. I believe Christians today are doing church wrong. They are not meeting with the intentions that God laid out for us in the New Testament. I believe God is using me to help the church return to its intended purpose.

4. Do you enjoy attending? I used to, and hopefully I will enjoy it again.

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu


To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

May 12, 202311:14
Why Do You Go to Church?

Why Do You Go to Church?

Hey friends, so the You Don't Have to Be Perfect podcast is starting a brand new series called why do you go to church? I will be interviewing people from all over the globe to ask them why going to church is important to them. What are the reasons for showing up week after week, year after year, generation to generation?

I hope you'll tune into these episodes and glean a lot. Also, I would love to have you be a guest. Email me at vanessa@bodysoulandmind.info and say I'd like to be a guest in the new series. (Or drop a comment below)


May 06, 202302:28
The Pure Ones

The Pure Ones


Inside today’s podcast I am thrilled to interview my favorite fiction author, Danielle Harrington. 

Danielle Harrington is a stay-at-home mom, award-winning author, and hardcore science nerd. She earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Biola University and taught high school chemistry for five years before becoming a full-time writer. Her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of Quidditch, BookTok, Middle Earth, and the perfect hand-crafted chai tea latte.


Danielle lives in Idaho with her husband, daughter, and three cats. Her current mission: Give readers twists they don't see coming and imaginings that keep them thinking long after the story

ends.

Danielle, I am THRILLED to have you with me today. Thank you so much for agreeing to come back to the podcast.


  1. Last year you quit your fulltime teaching job, had a baby and move to Idaho! That was a lot! Can you share with us how those decisions came to be?
  2. Were you scared about quitting your teaching career and moving out of state?
  3. Was prayer involved in this decision? Was it an act of faith
  4. What was it like to crank out the 3rd book of your series with a new baby and no teaching job?
  5. What is your favorite thing about writing these fabulous novels?
  6. What advice would you give to those who are considering a big life change?

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu


To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

Apr 21, 202334:20
Who Are You?

Who Are You?

Pretend you are not about to read a chapter of one of the most famous Bible stories. I'm inviting you to read Chapter 5 with fresh eyes. As I read through the story again, I was amused. The words and actions of each person are so telling. If you get intentional, you can look at your life and plot in these characters.

Pharaoh- The threatened leader.

Moses- The obedient yet concerned servant.

Aaron- The helper.

Hebrew servants- The majority of the population.

God- The all-knowing, all-powerful being. 

Have you ever witnessed a threatened leader? I'm sure you have! Might you have one in your family or at your job? Maybe this character is in your church. At the very least, you've witnessed a threatened leader in a movie or television show. The threatened leader is motivated by fear. Everything they do directly responds to the fear of losing their power.

Do you have a Moses in your life? A person who is obedient to God but also gets confused and concerned when things don't seem to be going too well. Perhaps, in your story, you are Moses?

If you are Moses, who is your Aaron? Who is that person in your life that isn't perfect but does their best to have your back?

We are the Hebrew people/slaves/servants in this story. Believe it.

Most of our discontent with painful circumstances or unmet expectations involves timing. We view life much differently than God. He has the pleasure and the privilege to live outside of time while we don't. This truth has caused me to become angry more times than I can count, but the discrepancy between our timelines is an opportunity to grow in faith and trust Him.

Moses obeyed God even though he felt unqualified; what God asked of him was no small feat. God called Moses to deliver the Hebrew people from Egypt! Moses didn't go to school for this. He didn't study ancient texts and uncover some secret missions to carry out. He had run away from a murder he had committed and was content to live under the radar as a shepherd among the Midians.

God promised Moses that He would be with him, but Moses counted it a failure when Pharaoh increased the labor for the Hebrew people. He asked God, why did you do this to your people!? This a valid question and one I can relate to well. Here's what I noticed, though, in chapter 3, verse 12, God says, "Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain."

God's promise, in chapter 3, does not include multiple victories but one victory at the end. This means God will be with Moses throughout the entirety of the deliverance. God even told Moses precisely what would happen with Pharoah. Moses knew that Pharoah would not accept his terms immediately because God told him so in chapter 4, verses 21-23. But when the opposition took place, Moses freaked. To this, I reply, "Same."

Freaking out at the first site of opposition is my norm. You think I would have learned by now, but like Moses, I am drawn to ask God why?

Thoughtful Pause

Do you trust God even when things get scary? Spend time in prayer now and be honest with God about your insecurities.

God is trustworthy, and He’s also gracious with our insecurities. As you close this chapter today, remember all the ways that God has come through for you in His perfect timing and ask Him to help you remember those the next time things get scary.

You can use the Exodus story to help strengthen your faith. God does exactly what He promises to do every time.


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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu


To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

Apr 12, 202308:07
Productive According To Who?

Productive According To Who?

Today's episode is called productive according to ot who? It's for all those women out there who find every minute accounted for, no margin of time in sight, and feel perpetually empty because it's never enough. There's never enough accomplished to earn a time of solace or rest, and any time that we forcefully carve out is lacking peace because we're afraid that we are dropping the ball. How could we possibly let go? God has ordained us to do these things, and we don't want to let Him down, right?

So I've been bouncing these thoughts around in prayer and in-between tasks and asking God to help me see that He is all I need. He has it all taken care of, and I get to be along for the ride and take it all in. Yes, work does get done, but from a place of rest and peace. I will tell you I'm not there at the moment but I'm confident that God is on the job.

Today God brought me to the story of Mary and Martha. It was part of the reading I did this week in the Live Daily Bible reading I do Monday through Friday on Ig. So now I'll take you there. Luke 10:38-42.

I'm confident you know this story well. You may have mentally painted Martha in a bad light, or maybe you relate to Martha and wish that Jesus didn't rebuke Martha (even though He did so graciously). The point of this story is to teach us that spending time with Jesus is more important than anything we do.

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu


To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

Apr 01, 202306:56
How Well Do You Know Jesus?
Mar 24, 202334:56
Give All Your Desires to God
Mar 17, 202329:43
Comparison Can be Left Out of the Journey

Comparison Can be Left Out of the Journey

I heard the Holy Spirit interrupt me gently and say, "That's my plan for them, but it's not my plan for you." I smiled and thanked God for His swift response so I wouldn't have to roll around with doubt for hours/days/weeks.


The other night Annie F Downs promoted two powerful books that are only available for pre-order. I followed her tags and investigated these new books to see if they'd be anything I'd enjoy. These authors may be the real deal, which is very exciting! They may be the people I've hoped for in the current Christian culture. But then, an ugly familiar voice turned this encouragement into fear and doubt.


The ugly voice questioned me. Aren't these the same ideas you always talk about but only a few listen to? I respond, "Yes, this is exactly what I am talking about; this is good! These people may get the word out further than me." Then the ugly voice says, "Why do big names with big influence promote these people?" I respond, "I'm not sure. It could probably be me if I worked harder on networking and building my platform."


As soon as I heard the word, platform, I knew this was not the voice of God. I stopped my thoughts and prayed. "Lord, you having me writing articles and self-publishing my 4th book. Am I doing it all wrong? Should I have spent more time building up my platform or pitching to agents..." [ God interrupts] "That's my plan for them, but it's not my plan for you."


I was so grateful for God's interruption that night few tears squeaked out. I'm so grateful that God is a close God, not a faraway God. "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." -James 4:8, ESV.


Friends, whatever you do, do it for the Lord and trust Him to guide you each step of the way. When you walk with God, comparison can be left out of the journey.


Psalms 37:5 says, "Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you." (NLT)

Mar 16, 202303:22
What Kind of Mom Are You?
Mar 03, 202338:39
Embracing Community

Embracing Community

Inside today's podcast, I have with me, Sarah Westfall. Sarah is a writer, speaker, podcast host, and community director for The Stories Between Us. Her writing explores the intersection of faith, community, and connection. At the end of the day, Sarah’s favorite place is with her people. She lives for slow Saturday mornings at home, sipping pour-over coffee with her husband Ben as their four sons play (very loudly). Sarah and her rowdy crew call Indiana home. You can connect with her on Instagram at @sarah_westfall or through her weekly letter Human Together at sarahewestfall.substack.com.

Join the conversation as we let go of perfect and embrace where we are choosing joy along the journey. It isn't easy to do, but we have help.

Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree in English Education and a master’s in Student Development Counseling, which opened the door to vast experiences in the worlds of both publishing and higher education. Her previous roles include serving as a student life professional on college campuses, freelance writing and editing, and teaching at both the secondary and collegiate level—experiences that enriched and shaped her pursuit of belonging. More recently, her two work worlds have converged as she stepped into leadership roles as community director for online creative communities like hope*writers and The Stories Between Us.

My favorite takeaway from today's conversation: There’s a difference between isolation and solitude. Isolation is withdrawing or hiding; disconnecting ourselves from God and other people. Solitude is making space to connect with God and ourselves.

To connect with Sarah, join her substack! sarahewestfall.substack.com. She'll provide you with quality content.

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu

To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

Feb 10, 202351:13
Embracing Imperfection
Feb 03, 202345:19
 Impact - Gospel Hope For Every Woman.

Impact - Gospel Hope For Every Woman.

Oh what a beautiful episode I have for you today! 

Inside today’s podcast I have with me Anna Hawkes Cabral. Anna is wife to Luís and mum to three beautiful children named Abigail, Priscila and Daniel. She is part of the leadership team of Vida Nova Church and has a blog and podcast called Unique Mums. Just a few days ago she released her 2nd book, Impact - Gospel Hope For Every Woman. I was blessed enough to get an early read of this book and it is phenomenal! I brought Anna on today to discuss it with us. Anna, thank you so much for coming back to the podcast.

Questions for this podcast:

  1. Your book reminds us that only our identity in Christ matters. Only His opinion of us holds validity. I know this, and I'm sure many others know this as well, but How do we practice not caring about the opinions of others?
  2. What inspired you to write this book? It's full of hard truths, which I love. What was the provocation for it?
  3. You talk about God's intention for us as uniqueness vs. conformity. Can you explain this concept?
  4. The next question is one of yours, but I'd love to have you answer it. How do we let go of conformity to the world and embrace conformity to Christ?
  5. Anna, I have been so blessed and encouraged by your book. It's exciting and comforting to know that others in the body of Christ care as much as I do about implementing the word of God in their lives. Where can we find your book, and how can we support you in your journey?

You can find Anna's book on Amazon!

 Impact - Gospel Hope For Every Woman. 

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu

To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 


Dec 09, 202231:20
Faith Beats Fear
Nov 25, 202234:33
Sabbath Rest

Sabbath Rest

Inside today’s podcast, I have with me, RACHEL FAHRENBACH. Rachel is a writer, speaker, and entrepreneur. She helps Christian fiction writers connect the dots on how they can make an impact and an income from their storytelling while keeping rest a priority. However, today she’s joining us to talk about a Sabbath Rest. She is the author of the guided journal Rest & Reflect and host of the Simply Sabbath podcast & The Business of Christian Fiction podcast. Originally from Chicago, Rachel now resides in Houston with her husband and three kiddos.

God created the Sabbath for us. It’s a gift and a command. So if you’re really tired or worn out I STRONGLY encourage you to listen to this episode. My dynamite guest @r taught me something brand new about the Sabbath in this episode and I’m confident you will too!

Questions in this episode.

  1. I know you’ve studied the Sabbath and have a lot of info to share with us. What would you say is the most important lesson you’ve learned about the Sabbath?
  2. Do you think God still cares about the Sabbath. Truly resting in God’s provision. don’t____trust god. Our lives are an invitation to work and rest alongside God.
  3. 5 R- Simply Sabbath. Com Remember, Reflect, Reconnect, Relax, Rejoice
  4. Do you have a Sabbath practice? What does it look like?
  5. How can we support you and stay connected to your journey?

Connect with Rachel!

simplysabbath.com

simplysabbath.com/podcast

simplysabbath.com/sabbathguide

instagram.com/simplysabbath

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu

To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

Nov 18, 202237:22
Do You Shut Down When Overwhelmed?

Do You Shut Down When Overwhelmed?

Best friends with rest? Too overwhelmed to deal? Unproductive rest? Flight mode. When you feel overwhelmed, do you shut down?

Today’s episode is for you?

Do you let God prioritize your to-do list?

“It’s not that making lists is the wrong things and taking naps is the wrong thing. It’s not one or the other. The answer is, go to God.”

More about Nicole:

First, I am the daughter of the most high God. I am His, and He is mine. I am a wife to an amazing and godly man and a mother to two energetic and loving boys.  The Lord called us to relocate from Maryland to Texas three years ago!  I am attending The King's University here in Texas, but online. I am an undergraduate for a Bachelor of Ministry Leadership and currently focusing on Ministry Administration. I am passionate about helping people and feel the Lord calling me here. I also have a passion for praying and going to spiritual war through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, submitted to Jesus Christ.

My Instagram name is @nicolelynn_warriorprincess because of who I am in Christ. I share about my family, college life, and anything the Lord impresses upon me.

Nov 11, 202231:52
Tired? Rewrite Your Belief on Rest

Tired? Rewrite Your Belief on Rest

Our belief about rest needs to be rewritten. For as long as I've been alive, it's been ingrained into my mind that rest needs to be earned. God does not teach this. He commands that rest be a necessity throughout the course of our lives. It will take some time, but we can rewrite this destructive belief and practice one that aligns with our creator.

Inside today's podcast, I have Leslie Moore. Leslie is a full-time homemaker by day and an aspiring writer by night. Though a teacher by trade, Leslie has the privilege of serving her family in their home in Mississippi. Leslie, her husband, John, and their two children are active in their local church where she serves in a small missions position within their Bible Fellowship class. When the household sleeps, Leslie enjoys bringing historical fiction characters and time periods to life through the prayerful lens of a Christian mind.

Follow Leslie on IG:

https://instagram.com/lesliemoorewrites?igshid=NzNkNDdiOGI=

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu

To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

Nov 04, 202232:27
Do You Believe You Need to Earn Your Rest?

Do You Believe You Need to Earn Your Rest?

Inside today's podcast, I have with me Leslie Moore. Leslie is joining our conversation on what to do when you're tired.

Do you feel like you have to earn your rest?

We are supposed to do the work God has called us to do but is the work that consumes your day the work that God has called you to do??

Good question, right? We discuss this question in an upcoming episode of the What To Do When You’re Tired series on the podcast. I hope you’ll tune in and join the conversation.

Our belief about rest needs to be rewritten. For as long as I've been alive, it's been ingrained into my mind that rest needs to be earned. God does not teach this. He commands that rest be a necessity throughout the course of our lives. It will take some time, but we can rewrite this destructive belief and practice one that aligns with our creator.

More about Leslie:

Leslie is a full-time homemaker by day and an aspiring writer by night. Though a teacher by trade, Leslie has the privilege of serving her family in their home in Mississippi. Leslie, her husband, John, and their two children are active in their local church, where she serves in a small missions position within their Bible Fellowship class. When the household sleeps, Leslie enjoys bringing historical fiction characters and time periods to life through the prayerful lens of a Christian mind.

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu

To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

Nov 04, 202232:33
Roberta- Tired? Rewrite Your Standards
Oct 28, 202233:57
Jen- Tired? Surrender

Jen- Tired? Surrender

A little bit about Jen Kosuda:

While I have been writing my entire life, I started to work on this four-part series, The Art of a Messy House, eight years ago. Then, after a time of fasting in 2019, I was prompted to let go of the past and “become who I needed when I was younger.” This turned my childhood wishes into my work, and I started publishing. In addition to this, being a middle school English Language Arts teacher adds experience to not only my writing but also my passion for my purpose. My main mission in life is serving God. Inspired by my faith and love for my family and friends, I now live to bring positivity to others each day. So far, I have published How to Be Kind and How to Be Fearless, two books in The Art of the Messy House children’s part of the series. The Art of a Messy House is part of my mission to mainstream faith in a way that brings hope to others. After I was set free from decades of battling anxiety, anorexia nervosa, and depression, I promised never to stop sharing this joy and love with others as I learn to love my mess.

Questions for you!

1. Let’s talk about your relationship with rest. When your body is getting heavy and your attitude snippy, do you realize it might be time for a break?

2. How often do you feel tired or worn out?

3. Does feeling tired frustrate you?

4. Do you believe God wants you to press on and persevere even when you’re tired and need a break?

Jen's books!

https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Kosuda/e/B091T3BJYD?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1665083832&sr=8-1

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Other Resources:

You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu

Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu

The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu

To Support

Leave a review and help spread the word about this uplifting podcast. You can also support it financially here:

https://anchor.fm/vanessa-luu 

Oct 21, 202247:17