Whatever Is Excellent with Leanne Tuggle

Political ads fade, but the tension doesn’t. If you’ve ever felt your stomach drop when politics comes up at dinner, or you’ve wondered how to hold biblical convictions without becoming harsh, we’re walking through a better way, one rooted in Scripture and shaped by the reality that our citizenship is in heaven. I share why I prefer political conversations in person, why online back-and-forth so often goes sideways, and how remembering we’re ambassadors for Christ changes what we’re aiming for when we speak. We dig into the real reasons political conversations feel so difficult: fear of how people will react, frustration that debates rarely produce fruit, and the genuine struggle of standing firm while still showing love. From there, I offer a simple picture that can reset your posture fast: stop sitting across the table like it’s a tug-of-war and move to the same side. That shift makes space for respect, peace, and honest dialogue even when you disagree. You’ll also get practical, repeatable tools for Christian communication and conflict: ask at least two questions before sharing your view, clarify definitions of loaded words, and practice giving a defense for the hope within you with gentleness and respect. We talk about discernment too, including when staying silent and praying is the wisest move. And if you’re a mom, we close with ways to help kids process what they’re hearing and learn to speak with kindness while building strong biblical convictions. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend before the next family gathering, and leave a review so more listeners can find biblically grounded encouragement for navigating politics with grace.Recommended Reading:When Culture Hates You by Natasha Crain 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/v3r2zwdaikIf 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. 

Episode 100 feels surreal, not because the number is impressive, but because I remember being afraid to even open a new microphone. That fear had a voice: What if this flops? What if I’m not good enough? What if it’s not “worth it” without money or recognition? Hitting this milestone gave me a clearer answer than any download count ever could: God asks for faithfulness to the mission, not obsession over the metrics. From Genesis forward, Scripture names God as Creator, and that means our identity starts here: we are image bearers. Creativity is not just painting or crafting, and it’s not reserved for the “talented.” It can look like building a home culture, writing words that encourage, making a meal feel like care, teaching a classroom with excellence, starting a business or ministry, or solving problems you never expected to face. We talk about how consumer culture trains us to take in endlessly, why that kind of constant consumption can quietly drain joy, and how creating becomes a form of stewardship that brings beauty into a broken world and points people to Jesus. If you’ve ever said, “I’m not creative,” I share a grounding reminder from Exodus: God equips the called with skill, wisdom, and craftsmanship. We also name the common traps that shut down creative courage comparison, scarcity, imposter syndrome, procrastination, and making it all about self-glory. My hope is that you finish listening ready to take one faithful step, however small, and trust God with the results. Subscribe, share this with a friend who feels stuck, and leave a review so more women can find the freedom to create anyway.Recommended Resources:Create Anyway by Ashlee Gadd  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/v3r2zwdaikIf 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. 

Complaining is easy, almost automatic, and it quietly trains our hearts to look for what is missing. We start with a story that changes everything: a 13 year old on a mission trip to Trinidad, standing in a squatter’s village and realizing that people with far less comfort can carry more joy and love than those of us surrounded by convenience. That moment becomes a mirror for our own “first world problems,” especially when November rolls around and we post about gratitude while still grumbling about traffic, family stress, and disrupted plans.We lay out a bold but practical idea for the holiday season: a 30 day no complaining challenge starting November 1. We talk about why God cares about our words, how grumbling is different from honest lament, and why the Israelites’ pattern in Exodus and Numbers is not just an ancient story but a modern warning. We also nerd out on the brain science behind attention, including the reticular activating system, and how repeated focus can retrain what we notice, helping us cultivate genuine contentment.Then we make it usable. You get a simple four step reset you can do mid moment: notice the complaint, name what you feel, give thanks for one thing, and respond with a better next step. We share real examples with kids, messy houses, math frustration, and the classic “I’m not complaining, but…” line, plus we close with the hymn “Count Your Blessings” as a grounded reminder to name God’s goodness out loud. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review, then tell us: what is the hardest thing for you not to complain about?Recommended Resources:Want to join the 30-Day No Complaining Challenge? Fill out this FORM and we will do this together! This Moment Matters by Ruth Chou Simons 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/v3r2zwdaikIf 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. 

Seeing all my books boxed up this summer reminded me how much I really love books! But it also opens a bigger question: why do books still matter when we can learn almost anything from a quick video? We talk about books as more than entertainment, because reading is formative. Stories build imagination, and imagination is not fluff. It’s a way we learn to hope, to think, to notice meaning, and to stay with an idea long enough for it to form us. We connect that to faith and spiritual formation, including how reading can help our minds slow down and engage truth through images, symbols, and story in a world that keeps trying to speed us up. Then we get practical about building a family reading culture. We share realistic ways to make books part of daily life: keeping books within reach, taking regular library trips, talking about what you’re reading in the car, and even creating book-friendly traditions. We also walk through our read-aloud routine, why it helps kids of different ages (including kids who struggle to read), and how series reading can keep momentum through the school year. Finally, we offer a simple framework for choosing good books with discernment. You can’t pre-read everything your kids will encounter, so we focus on teaching wise questions, modeling thoughtful reading ourselves, and keeping the Bible as the foundation that shapes what we welcome into our minds. If you found this helpful, follow the show, share it with a friend who wants to raise readers, and leave a review so more families can find us.Recommended Resources:Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia PolaccoThe Life-Giving Parent by Clay & Sally ClarksonRead Aloud RevivalEpisode 51: Raising Discerning Kid TodayEpisode 45: Minds Filled with Excellence Library 4 Kiddos  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/v3r2zwdaikIf 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. 

You can be around church for years and still wonder, “How do I actually hear God?” That question gets very real when you’re trying to make a decision, fight anxiety, or sort out whether a thought is wisdom or just noise. We sit down for a personal conversation about prayer and spiritual discernment with someone who’s shaped our family for decades: my mom, a steady prayer warrior who has learned to recognize God’s voice over time. We talk about what “hearing the voice of God” really means, why it’s rooted in relationship, and how Scripture becomes the simplest test for discernment. If God’s character is revealed in the Bible, then His voice will never contradict His Word. We also dig into a practice that sounds easy but can be surprisingly hard: five minutes of silence before and after reading Scripture. My mom shares how silence first felt like “five hours,” then became the space where God met her with clarity, comfort, and direction. We also cover practical next steps for guidance: asking specific questions, waiting without forcing an answer, and seeking confirmation through Scripture, trusted counsel, and circumstances God uses to highlight His direction. You’ll hear encouraging examples of God speaking through peace, pictures, dreams, and quiet impressions, plus a gentle challenge to respond with obedience when He does speak. If you want a more consistent quiet time, stronger Christian discernment, and a calmer approach to prayer, this one is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who’s longing to hear God, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. 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/v3r2zwdaikIf 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. 

Your child’s question can land like a pop quiz you did not study for: Can I sleep over there? When do people start dating? Why can’t I have a phone? What about Halloween? What do we do when friends believe something different? I walk through how I try to answer those moments without panic by building clear personal convictions ahead of time. I start by drawing a bright line between biblical convictions and personal convictions. Biblical convictions come from God’s Word and shape a Christian worldview rooted in truth that applies to all believers. Personal convictions are the family standards we develop when the Bible doesn’t give a direct rule for a specific modern choice. That difference matters because it keeps us from imposing our preferences on others, and it helps us pursue wisdom instead of reacting in the heat of the moment. From there, I share how my husband and I think through practical standards like phones, sleepovers, dating, Santa, and Halloween, and why unity between spouses is essential for consistent discipleship. I also unpack three key inputs for Christian decision-making: a conscience shaped by Scripture, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and discernment strengthened through practice. Finally, I lean on Romans 14 to show how believers can hold convictions with humility, avoid sowing discord, and keep Christ at the center even as standards change over time. If this resonates, subscribe so you don’t miss what’s next, share the episode with a parent or mentor, and leave a review that helps more families find the show.Recommended Reading:The Mansoul Chronicles by Lithos Kids (ages 6-12)Entrusted with a Child's Heart by Betsy Corning Romans 14 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/v3r2zwdaikIf 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. 

Holiday stress doesn’t usually show up all at once. It stacks up quietly, one “yes” at a time, one unplanned expense at a time, and one more late night that leaves you running on fumes. After a simple monthly marriage meeting and a gentle reminder to stay on budget, we zoom out to a bigger, steadier idea: Christmas preparation is really about stewardship. If God has entrusted us with resources, then planning the next three months is spiritual work, not just logistics.Unpack what it means to steward time with wisdom, including how fear drives an overloaded calendar and how clarity brings peace. Let's talk through practical holiday planning with your spouse: choosing traditions you love, releasing what feels like obligation, deciding commitments early, and giving yourself permission to make choices based on what fits your family in this season. If you want better holiday time management and fewer rushed weeks, this is your roadmap.Then we get concrete with money. I'll walk you through a realistic Christmas budget, why “counting the cost” matters, and the common categories that blow up spending: gifts, food, travel or hosting, Christmas cards, teacher gifts, wrapping and mailing supplies, and special activities. I also touch on how to teach kids healthy expectations and why generosity isn’t measured by dollars.Finally, let's talk about the overlooked resource: energy. Just because you have time to do something doesn’t mean you have the capacity, and the holidays don’t have to be a burnout contest. If you want a faith-based approach to holiday planning that leads to more peace, more margin, and a more meaningful Christmas, listen now, then subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more families can find it.Recommended Resources:She Reads Truth Advent 2026  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/v3r2zwdaikIf 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. 

A messy house can make you feel like you’re failing, even when you’re working hard all day. We’re pushing back on that pressure by naming a better target for Christian homemaking: not a perfect home, but a faithful one. When the goal becomes loving and serving the people God has entrusted to you, routines stop feeling like a scoreboard and start feeling like support. We talk about wisdom, creativity, and why “how people feel in your home” is a surprisingly honest measure of progress. Then we get very practical. I walk through a simple way to build homemaking systems that actually fit real life: list your tasks as daily, weekly, and monthly, assign them to specific days, and commit to follow-through. We also talk about adjusting expectations by season, including what it can look like to get help when you truly can’t do it all. If your home has ever felt chaotic, we connect rhythms and peace to a God who is not a God of confusion, and we bring that belief down to the level of laundry days and kitchen resets. We also cover minimalist decorating, decluttering, and how to create a cozy home without buying more. You’ll hear ideas like “everything has a place,” a nightly 15-minute tidy to “put your home to bed,” and a “minimum day” plan for sickness, new babies, or moving chaos so you can keep the house functional without spiraling into guilt. We close with clear homemaking guidelines, a reminder that Christ is the center of the home, and an encouraging hymn that calls us back to faithful work done with joy. If this brought you clarity, subscribe, share this with a friend who feels overwhelmed at home, and leave a review so more women can find practical, biblical encouragement for homemaking.Recommended Reading:Welcome Home by MyQuillyn SmithEve in Exile by Rebekah MerkleThe Daily Connoisseur's Guide to Living Well at Home by Jennifer L. Scott 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/v3r2zwdaikIf 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. 

Culture is loud about what “success” should look like, but the heart knows when something doesn’t fit. I sit down with my friend Sarah, a military spouse and mom of three boys, to talk about homemaking, motherhood, and how God’s design for women reshapes what a meaningful life really is. We get practical and personal about why staying home can be a calling, not a consolation prize, and how faithfulness in the home can outlast any public achievement.We dig into the deeper questions many Christian moms quietly carry: Why does the repetitive, unseen work matter? How do you stay encouraged when laundry and dishes never end? Sarah shares a perspective shift that reframes homemaking as service to God and to people, and we talk about the freedom that comes from moving from “I have to” toward “I get to.” We also unpack how motherhood sanctifies us, exposing selfishness and inviting daily surrender.You’ll also hear what discipleship at home can look like without turning your family life into a rigid curriculum: building trust, welcoming hard questions, praying often, reading the Bible together, memorizing Scripture, showing up at church consistently, and letting kids see real repentance and real faith in motion. If you’ve felt torn between outside expectations and what you sense God is asking of you, this conversation offers clarity, comfort, and courage. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.Recommended Reading:Simplified Organization by Mistie Winckler 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/v3r2zwdaikIf 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. 

The culture has a lot to say about women and the home, but most of it leaves us either defensive, exhausted, or quietly ashamed. I want to start somewhere steadier: what Scripture actually says home is for, and why our longing for it might be pointing to something deeper than cozy fall feelings. Part 1 of my For The Love Of The Home mini-series builds a biblical vision of the home as a place of belonging, protection, hospitality, and discipleship. We look at why the home matters in Genesis and Deuteronomy 6, how it can reflect God’s character through daily rhythms, and why our earthly homes even echo the promise of a heavenly home in John 14 and Revelation 21. I also name the real pain many of us carry from family life and how that brokenness can tempt us to treat home as either a trap or an afterthought. From there, I challenge two modern extremes and return to God’s design for women as image bearers and “helpers” meaning equal in worth, different by design. We walk through Titus 2 and Proverbs wisdom to show that loving your husband, discipling children, and working at home takes training and intentionality, and that excellence in unseen work can bless the entire family. I share my own pivot away from hustle culture, plus a simple question that clarifies priorities fast: which direction are you pointed? If you want a Christian perspective on homemaking, motherhood, women’s roles, and building a life-giving home without the noise, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more women can find the series.Recommended Reading:Eve in Exile by Rebekah MerkleKeep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth ElliotThe Crucified Life by A.W. Tozer 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/v3r2zwdaikIf 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.