Julie Lefebure
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141. 5 Simple Ways to Study the Bible
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
It doesn't have to be so complicated! Do you study the Bible? For years Julie had every reason not to, so she didn't. Until one day she joined a Bible study that changed her spiritual life. Twenty seven years later she shares with us five simple ways to study the Bible. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Do you study the Bible? Do you open it up and read it? Or are you a bit intimidated to? Does studying the Bible frustrate you because you just don't understand the words inside of it? Or do you just simply don't have time to read it? Maybe you don't own a Bible? Well, there are many reasons to shy away from studying the Bible. How do I know? Because many of them were once mine. I once thought: I was too busy to read the Bible. The Bible was something I couldn't understand. The Bible was full of rules and regulations that I couldn't keep. I didn't think I was smart enough to study it. I was never taught to study the Bible when I was young. Since I didn't own a Bible, I thought Bibles were for only special people. I had every reason not to study the Bible. But as I mentioned in last week's episode, I enrolled in a Bible study back in 1997, because I had this pull on my heart to see what the Bible was all about. And because my good friend prompted me to. So one Wednesday morning, me, my brand new Bible, and my then three year old showed up to a church to study the Bible. So now studying the Bible is something I do daily. I don't do it perfectly, and I don't know all there is to know about the Bible, but I'm willing to be a student of Jesus for as long as I'm on this earth. Over the years I've learned some ways to study the Bible. I share them in this episode. 1 - The 3-Question Method 2 - Word or Character Study 3 - One Year Bible Study 4 - Devotionals or Books 5 - Bible Plans No matter how we do it, when we study the Bible we will be blessed. God will teach us, grow us, and transform us from the inside out through it. His Word changes us in amazing ways, for our growth, for the good of others, and for His glory. Links in the episode: Bible Study Fellowship Hebrews 4:12 NLT 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV Episode 40, 3 Ways Studying Scripture Can Impact Your Life My books: Right Now Matters and the Right Now Matters Bible Study Online Bibles: Bible Gateway, Bible Hub, Blue Letter Bible Stay encouraged through the tools in my Free Resource Library-
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140. 3 Ways Studying Scripture Can Impact Your Life
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
Take it from someone who was once intimidated to study it. Do you think studying scripture (the Bible) can impact your life? Julie shares in this episode three ways she has seen it impact hers. May this motivate us all to crack open our Bibles or click on our Bible apps to see what God has for us inside. It may just change our lives! Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Do you think studying scripture can impact your life? Not long ago I heard a young woman say she had really never studied scripture or the Bible before, but she wanted to. Her experience was that when she attempted to read her Bible, she couldn't understand it, and that made her feel stupid. I could relate to what she said. In fact, it took me back to the day I enrolled in a Bible study so many years ago. I didn't own a Bible at the time, unless I counted the big white Bible that stayed in a box in my childhood home, tucked away for whatever reason. We weren't ever taught to read it, and I'm not sure we were allowed to open that Bible for fear of us kids ruining it. I thought I had no business going to a Bible study because I didn't know the first thing about the Bible. It seemed to me like it was filled with words I couldn't comprehend, and inside were rules and regulations I had to follow to be accepted by God. Little did I know how far off my thinking was back then. But because a dear friend prompted me to, I showed up at a church one Wednesday morning with my three year old and newly purchased Bible in tow, ready to see what this Bible study was all about. That was 27 years ago in February. Since then, I haven't done it perfectly, but God has continued to teach me and grow me through studying scripture. I share details as to how and why in this episode. Studying scripture impacts our lives. Speaking of this, next week our next online session of the Right Now Matters Bible Study begins. I released this 28-Day guided adventure to living as a Right-Now Woman in December. It's the coordinating Bible Study for my book, Right Now Matters that released in October. But this study isn't just some little pamphlet. It's a full-sized book, written to equip us to go deeper with God to learn how to live the abundant lives Jesus came to give us, leaving our everyday distractions behind. It's free to attend, and the link for registration and details are below. I pray God encourages your heart through this episode today. Thanks for tuning in. God bless you! Links in this episode: 2 Timothy 3:16-17 MSG Encouragement for Real Life Community Right Now Matters Bible Study registration and details Proverbs 2:1-5 NCV Access my Free Resource Library, full of helpful tools to remain encouraged and uplifted-
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139. What? A Quarter of the Year Is Behind Us!
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
It's a perfect time to pause and ponder our lives. Can you believe it? One-fourth of 2024 is in our past! In this episode Julie leads us through a process she recently walked through in reflecting on her life and allowing God to realign and refocus her on what's important. It's the perfect season to take an inventory on your life and make any needed adjustments for the rest of 2024. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. How can it be April 2? I mean, didn't we just begin 2024? Yet, here we are, with a quarter of the year behind us already. It doesn't appear that life will slow down anytime soon, yet I don't want the remaining three quarters of the year to speed by this quickly. I'm assuming you're feeling the same! Recently I took some time to reflect on my life. I asked God to realign my life according to His plans and purposes, and to refocus my attention accordingly. In this episode I’m sharing what I did in that process, because it was extremely helpful for me. Maybe it will be helpful for you, too. These are three questions I asked myself when I paused to reflect on my life. I invite you to take some time to answer them, too. Am I making the most of this life--the abundant life Jesus came to give me? Am I honoring God with my life? Is my life bearing fruit? These questions pointed me in the direction of what truly matters in my life. It's not the stuff or the trivial things I sometimes focus on that matters. It's not how I believe I'm living my life or what the world thinks. I desire to honor God with my life and to bear fruit in this life for Him. Am I really doing that? Even though a quarter of the year is behind us, reflecting, realigning, and refocusing can help us stay on track. I pray this process that I recently walked through of reflecting, realigning, and refocusing helps bring you back to what's important in your life, like it did for me. May we each stay in the center of God's will. Pausing every now and then like this to examine our lives and where God may be leading us will help us keep on track. I'm cheering you on today, friend. Thanks for being here. God bless you! Links in this episode: Colossians 1:10 ESV Luke 10:38-42 NIV Proverbs 16:9 NLT Genesis 16 NIV Encouragement for Real Life Community My books: Right Now Matters and the Right Now Matters Bible Study Access my Free Resource Library to find tools to help you stay encouraged and uplifted-
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Finding hope and encouragement through this Right-Now Woman! With this episode we're beginning a new monthly series featuring various Right-Now Women. (A term Julie references in her book, Right Now Matters.) The first guest in this series is the wonderful Nicole Williams. You'll be blessed by Nicole's words of hope as you listen in on Julie's conversation with her. Nicole prompts us see God's image in others and inspires us to live above our circumstances. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Today's episode is an inspiring one as I share the conversation I had with my wonderful friend, Nicole Williams. But the thing is, we've never met in person--just online. I describe Nicole Williams as a Right-Now Woman (you'll know what that means if you've read my book) who helps others be their best selves. She's an author of Rise Up: Believing God When the World Is Falling Apart, and she's creating an amazing course called Forgiveness School: Finding Freedom From the Things that Hold Us Back. I can't wait for that! Her passion is leading people toward spiritual transformation by helping them see the image of God in all people. Imagine if we did that every day! I believe you'll be greatly impacted by our conversation and Nicole's words. Nicole Williams inspires us to see the image of God in others. Our conversation prompted me to do that with every person in my life. I pray it does for you, too! We are discussing this in our private Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook, so come over there to join in the conversation. Nicole shines the light of Jesus in this world, and I'm grateful for her presence here and in our lives today. Be sure to find Nicole on social media (the links are in the show notes), and check out her resources on her website, including her free guide, "Why Can't I Change?" This episode is the first in the monthly series on the podcast featuring different Right-Now Women. You won't want to miss a one! Thank you for tuning in today. I pray God helps you see His image in others this week and beyond. God bless you! Links in this episode: Connect with Nicole through her website and grab her free guide "Why Can't I Change?" Follow Nicole on Instagram Encouragement for Real Life Community Find our more about my book Right Now Matters: Empowering Right-Now Women in a Culture of Distraction
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137. What Happens When We Invite God Into Our Days
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
It's more than we can ask or imagine! This episode is a follow up to last week's episode, 136. Something amazing happens when we invite God into our days, into our moments. We look at this with real-life examples of Julie's recent vacation with her husband. And wait until to hear where they spent their last night of vacation! Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Do you typically invite God into your day? Do you ask Him to walk with you through your moments? On the days when I begin them with Him, I do this well. On the days I don't, well I don't. This is one of the reasons I'm so set on starting my day with God. It truly makes all the difference for me. But don't you think our days would be much more spirit- and hope-filled if we invited God into every one of them? In last week's episode 136, That Time God Went with Us on Vacation, I shared how my husband and I had just returned from a 10-day vacation, and how we invited God to go on the trip with us. From the initial prayer we voiced as we left our home in the wee hours of the morning of our first day, we asked God to lead us, guide us, and to travel with us. I'm so glad we did because doing so, I believe, impacted our vacation in ways I couldn't expect in that moment. If you haven't listened to last week's episode, I encourage you to do so. It's like a "part 1" to this episode. So yes, we invited God to go with us, and He accepted! The thing is, this world isn't conditioned to invite God in. This world tells us we can do it all on our own and we can handle it all. How many times have you heard, "You've got this!," or have heard others say to themselves, "I've got this!"? I don't know about you, but I don't got anything on my own. I just don't. But with God I do. If we park for a minute in this chapter of John 15, it clearly reveals to us the secret of success and flourishing. It's remaining in Jesus. It's abiding in Him, and clinging to Him. Verse 4 in that chapter reads, "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me" (NIV). When we invite God in, we remain in Him. I share a few of what I call, "God-incidences" on our vacation and how I saw God bless us and provide for us. Plus we look at Philippians 4:6-7, which is a key reminder for what happens when we invite God into our days. Friend, let's invite God into every day. This is too important not to. I'm cheering you on and praying for you today. God bless you! Links in this episode: Episode 136, That Time God When with Us on Vacation John 15 NIV Philippians 4:6-7 TLB Encouragement for Real Life Community Details for our next women's evening of encouragement, Real Encouragement LIVE! Access my Free Resources Library to help you stay uplifted and encouraged-
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136. That Time When God Went with Us on Vacation
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
It's amazing what God will do when we invite Him in! Julie and her husband invited God to join them on their recent vacation, and guess what? He accepted! Julie shares a few powerful stories of what God did on their vacation as examples for us in our everyday lives. Let's invite God into this moment, into this day and watch what He will do! Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Let me tell you about the time when God went with us on vacation. My husband and I returned from a ten-day vacation on Saturday. We returned rested and rejuvenated, glad to be home, yet longing for a few more days together in the sun and on the sand. But truly, there's no place like home, am I right? But so much happened on our vacation. I share a couple stories in this episode and I'll reserve a couple for next week's. I pray our experiences will encourage you and inspire you and give you hope, like they did me as we were living them out. Just because we're on vacation doesn't mean we leave our real lives behind. It doesn't mean we don't carry with us the things that are important to us, or the things that truly matter. I usually carry with me my Bible, any devotional books I'm reading, and I certainly bring my journal. Even on vacations of years past, we always invited God to join us. Because why would we ever want to leave home without Him? Or why would we not want to begin our vacation days with Him, just like we begin our days at home with Him? So as we left our home in those early morning hours of February 28, Bill and I prayed together for our trip. We invited God to join us on our vacation. Yes, God went with us on vacation. And because He did, do I have some stories and experiences to share with you! But we know God is always with us, right? We're never left to fend for ourselves. But something amazing happens when we intentionally invite God in to our moments, in to our days, and yes, even on our vacations. In fact, why don't we take a moment and silently or aloud invite Him into our moment right now? From the audio book we listened to on the way there, to how we were able to bike on our tandem in Florida, to how God led us, blessed us, and rested our bodies, God was involved in our vacation. But we knew the first morning in Florida, we weren't just there for ourselves. God placed us there for the woman in Unit B. It's amazing what God will do when we invite Him in. I'm so glad God went with us on vacation. I have more stories to tell, but I'll share more in next week's episode, number 137. But for now, I pray this prompts us all to invite God into our days, into our everyday moments. I pray God has encouraged you and strengthened you today. Invite Him into your days, into your moments, and watch what He will do in and through you. You may be the blessing someone else needs today. Links in this episode: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 NIV Encouragement for Real Life Community Real Encouragement LIVE! event for women: Reflect, Realign, and Refocus Access my Free Resource Library filled with tools to encourage your heart!-
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135. The Truth About Distractions and Our Purpose
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
Living distracted directly affects our purpose in life. We have a choice to make every day, even in every moment--to live distracted or undistracted. What we choose impacts not just how we live, but our purpose in life as well. This matters greatly, and we discuss this in today's episode. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. I know this truth about distractions and our purpose, and I even wrote about it in my book, Right Now Matters. But in my everyday real life, and living in today's culture, I believe it got a bit buried. But after God's reminder in my own study as I led two groups of women through the Right Now Matters Bible Study, I unburied it, dusted it off, and began carrying it with me once again. Somewhere along the way I let it slip out of my focus, and sadly, that's what happens when we get distracted. Distractions entice us to let go of what's important for far lesser things. It's easy to let go of what's important when we're distracted. And consequently, it's easy to lose sight of our purpose when we're distracted. How do I know? Well, because I've lived this out in my life, and maybe you have too. You just didn't realize it as such. Or maybe you have realized it, and now God is reminding you, kind of like He recently reminded me. What is your purpose, and what is mine? Or better yet, what is God's purpose for us. Only when we know our purpose can we stay focused on it. It's tough to stay focused on something we don't know or understand, don't you agree? We look at three points of God's purpose for us. When we're distracted, we can lose sight of our purpose. But when we live attentive and undistracted, we are better able to fully live out our purpose... and God's purpose for us. God is the solution to living an undistracted life. He is all we need. And without Him we don't stand a chance against the never-ending, relentless, all-consuming distractions of life. The truth about distractions and our purpose is that distractions keep us from following God's purpose for our lives. Distractions will always pull us away from what's important and will entice us to focus on lesser things. Let's do all we can to come against these distractions and continue to walk out the purpose God has for us. I'm glad we get to travel this road together. Stay encouraged this week, friend. God bless you! Links in this episode: Isaiah 26:3 NIV Colossians 3:2 ESV Philippians 4:8 NLT Check out my Free Resources library, full of tools to help you stay encouraged and inspired. Get your tickets for our next Real Encouragement LIVE! women's event: Reflect, Realign, Refocus Order your copy of my newly released books: Right Now Matters and the Right Now Matters Bible Study-
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134. An Unexpected Divine Detour with Lori Ann Wood
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
A powerful story of hope and promise that will encourage your heart! Today's guest is author, speaker, and real-life sojourner of a serious heart condition, Lori Ann Wood. Lori Ann shares her powerful story of hope and promise, and leads us to encourage deep faith questions along the detours of life. You won't want to miss this conversation! Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. You are in for a blessing today! In this episode I chat with the lovely Lori Ann Wood, who is a newer online friend of mine. She's an author, speaker, and an advocate for heart health as she walks through her own health journey. She has an incredible story to tell, and she shares some of it with me in today's episode. Consequently, our conversation inspired me, challenged me, and pointed me to the wonderful hope we have in Jesus, and I believe it will do the same for you. I say often, we each have something we're walking through or dealing with, so whatever that is for you, I believe it's no accident you are listening today. God has something special in store just for you here. Lori Ann Wood and her Divine Detour is an inspiring reality of hope and promise. (My guest episodes are longer than my solo episodes.) Who needs to hear Lori Ann's story today? Be sure to forward this to them. What did you glean from Lori Ann's testimony of her journey? Come on over to the private Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook this week. We're discussing this and encouraging one another through Lori Ann's words. I'd love for you to join in the conversation. The link to this group is in the show notes. As I mention in the episode, I encourage you to reach out to Lori Ann and to follow her journey through social media and her website. Be sure to grab her information about the warning signs she mentioned as well. The links to do so are in the show notes. Thank you for joining Lori Ann Wood and I today. God has good plans for Lori Ann's life, for your life, and for mine. Because of this truth, may we remember this in the days to come and remind others of it as well. Thank you for tuning in. Stay encouraged and God bless you! Links in this episode: Encouragement for Real Life Community The Heart Failure Warning Signs I Missed by Lori Ann Wood Read the first chapter free of Lori Ann Wood's book, Divine Detour (you can also find it on Amazon) Follow Lori Ann on Instagram Follow Lori Ann on Facebook Access my Free Resource Library to help you live encouraged and undistracted My books: Right Now Matters and the Right Now Matters Bible Study-
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133. There Has Got to Be More to Life Than This
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
Have you thought or voiced this recently? Have you thought or voiced recently, "There has got to be more to life than this?" It's something numerous women can relate to. There IS more to life than this, and we're discussing this in this episode. Could God be trying to get your attention like He did Julie's years ago? Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. As I travel around to speak to various groups about my newly published book, Right Now Matters, one question I like to ask is this, "Have you thought or voiced lately 'there has got to be more to life than this'?" And every time I do, I see the same reaction on the faces looking back at me. Every single woman understands this question and feeling. Every single one. Because we've all lived it. One woman at the event I spoke at on Saturday nodded her head and rolled her eyes. It was clear she certainly could relate. In Chapter 2 of Right Now Matters, "There's Got to Be More," I discuss this in great detail. I share about the first time I thought this thought and how it wouldn't leave me, no matter how I tried to ignore it or forget it or bury it. I knew there had to be more to life than the life I was living. It was then I began to believe God was trying to get my attention, so I listened. I stayed alert, and I followed Him to where He as leading me. Which was to a pregnancy and an at-home business. This was a turning point in my life, and I can say without hesitation, my life has never been the same since. I invite you to read Chapter 2 for the full story. Countless women are pondering similar thoughts daily. I hear their desperate pleas for the answers. I see their anxious faces, and I feel the heaviness they've been carrying in their hearts for what feels like forever. They each desire to live an abundant, joy-filled life, but currently are living anything but that. This may be for a number of reasons, but in Chapter 2 I address distractions. Distractions are robbing us of joy, of abundance, of our very lives! Yet so many of us don't realize it. In this episode I share hope though Scripture and why it is important to partner with God in living the abundant life Jesus came to give us. Yes, there has got to be more to life than this. And there is! If you're thinking, "there has got to be more to life than this," God may be trying to get your attention like He did mine. He has good plans for our lives. And with Him is the best place to be. May we choose to live each moment of the day attentive and undistracted. This life is too important not to do so. God bless you! Links in this episode: Philippians 3:20-21 MSG 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG Revelation 21:1-5 CEV Encouragement for Real Life Community Learn more about Right Now Matters and the Right Now Matters Bible Study Access my Free Resource library filled with ways to encourage your heart-
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It's not a trick question, but one that's vitally important to how we love God and others. Some of us have been taught to not think too highly of ourselves, and others of us may not feel worthy of love--even love from ourselves. In this episode Julie takes us deeper in why and how it's okay (and important!) to love ourselves, and why it really has nothing to do with us. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. At the airing of this episode it's Valentine's week. It's the week our focus tends to turn towards love and red hearts and thinking about showing love to others. I'm thinking we're alike in desiring to show love and receive love every moment we can. But the thing is, we aren't able to show or receive love well if we don't love ourselves. So, do you love who you are? Many of us have been told to not think too highly of ourselves, or to put others first, or to be humble and meek. Some of us aren't sure if it's okay to love ourselves because we've been taught or experienced otherwise. Others of us have been chastised at the mention of loving who we are because the focus of love shouldn't be on ourselves, but on God and others instead. Is it wrong to love who you are? Now, it's not wrong to be humble and meek, nor is it wrong to put others first and to keep a proper perspective of who we are. These honor God and He is very clear about these in His Word. And if we only loved ourselves and not God and others, well our priorities would be misaligned and misguided. Loving ourselves within the healthy boundaries of God's love is beautiful in His eyes. But it's never okay to live with the thought that we aren't deserving of love--and that love includes ourselves. God's Word is also very clear about that. I share a few Bible verses to encourage us and point us to truth. So, I ask you today... Do you love who you are? Do you love the person you are in a humble way? With a proper and healthy perspective? Do you love the person God created you to be? One thing I've learned is this: loving who you are isn't about you at all. Loving ourselves is all about God. You can love who you are because of Who made you. In closing, God loves you so very much, and I pray you love who you are too. You are His beautiful and magnificent creation, unique and special. As you go about your week this week, remember who you are in Jesus. I'm thankful for these few moments we got to spend together today. I love and appreciate you! God bless you! 2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV Matthew 22:37-39 ESV Psalm 139:13-16 VOICE Encouragement for Real Life Community Access my Free Resource Library to encourage your heart daily Learn more about my books Right Now Matters and the Right Now Matters Bible Study
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131. "Did God Say That?" This Is Impacting My Life!
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
This four-word question is powerful! It's interesting how a short question can impact us greatly. Julie shares in this episode how this question, "Did God Say That?" is impacting her life and in what areas she's asking it. It may become your favorite question for your life, too! Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. I love it when God takes me deeper with Him on various subjects, and last week's episode with Michelle Layer Rahal, pointed me to think about a number of things with God. The question that keeps coming to mind is this: "Did God say that?" And I'm using it in a number of ways in my life now. Because it's been helping me in the last week, I thought it might help you, too. What do I mean? I'm using this four-word question four ways. Maybe I'll use it more in the days to come, but right now, these four ways are helping me discern truth. 1 - Listening for God's voice I'm paying attention to hearing God's voice so I don't have to wonder and ask the question, "Did God say that?" I know it's Him. 2 - Checking my thoughts When negative or discouraging thoughts enter my mind I'm asking the question, "Did God say that?" I know the answer each time. 3 - Basing what I believe on truth When I read something or hear someone mention something about God or the Bible, I'm asking the question, "Did God say that?" I'm making sure what I believe is based on truth. 4 - Questioning what I do I'm taking a look at my life and analyzing everything I do, asking the question, "Did God say that?" or "Did God direct me to do this?" This has been enlightening! We dig into these four areas a little deeper. We're discussing this further this week in our private Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook. I invite you over there to join in the conversation. You'll find the link to this group in the show notes. And if you found some encouragement in this episode, would you consider rating it or reviewing it from wherever you're listening today? This helps others find this encouragement too. Subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. And share it with another who could use some encouragement today. In closing, I pray this all-important question of "Did God say that?" will help you draw closer to God and experience His peace, presence, and provision unlike you ever have before. He loves you so very much! May you know just how much today. I'm grateful for you and your presence here, and I'm glad to cross paths with you today. I'm cheering you on, friend! God bless you! Links in this episode: Episode 130, Are You Listening with Michelle Layer Rahal Jeremiah 33:3 ESV John 16:13 ESV Psalm 37:7 ESV Acts 17:10-15 NIV Encouragement for Real Life Community Access my Free Resource Library filled with items to encourage and inspire you Live undistracted through my books Right Now Matters and the Right Now Matters Bible Study-
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130. Are You Listening? with Michelle Layer Rahal
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
This conversation will inspire you and encourage your heart! Could you use some encouragement today? This episode is for you! Joining Julie on the podcast today is author and encourager, Michelle Layer Rahal. They discuss much including faith, hearing God's voice, and how to stay encouraged in your everyday life. You won't want to miss this one. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. I recently had an inspiring and encouraging conversation with fellow author and friend, Michelle Layer Rahal. It impacted me greatly as she gave me much to think about regarding listening for God's voice, seeing God in our every day, and growing in faith. I'm sharing that conversation in today's episode. Michelle and I met through a community hosted by our writing coach, and after we got to talking, we realized we have lots in common. I believe you'll be blessed by our conversation! Michelle Layer Rahal is the award-winning author of Straining Forward: One Woman’s Journey from Oppression to Redemption in the Wake of the Vietnam War and Are You Listening?: A Guide to Recognizing and Responding to God’s Voice. She is a former radio news reporter and educator, who now enjoys leading Bible studies, coaching aspiring authors toward publication, and singing worship songs at the top of her lungs. When not in front of the computer, Michelle can usually be found in the kitchen preparing a gourmet meal for friends and family. She lives in Virginia with her husband and blogs about God’s tangible presence. What's one thing that encouraged you through our conversation today? What will you apply to your life? We're discussing this over at our private Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook. Stop by for a few minutes and be inspired. The link to this group is in the show notes. You can connect with Michelle and learn more about her in the links in the show notes, and I encourage you to do so. Michelle is a delightful soul, and I think you will enjoy how she is an encouragement in faith. And as we mentioned, Michelle is generously giving away eBook copies of her latest book, Are You Listening?, to two listeners of the Encouragement for Real Life Podcast. If you'd like to enter the drawing, the link to do so is in the show notes. Also, check out my Free Resource Library on my site. It's full of tools to help you live encouraged and undistracted. Things like printables, bookmarks, lockscreens, and I even have inside some fun scavenger hunts! The link to this library is in the show notes as well. If you found encouragement and hope in this episode, please leave a rating and/or review so others can find this encouragement too. Subscribe so you never miss an episode. In closing, I pray we each pause long enough today and this week to hear God's voice. Are we listening? I pray we are. Friend, keep putting one foot in front of the other and walking close to God as you do. Thanks for being here today! God bless you! Links in this episode: Enter the Are You Listening? Giveaway to win one of two eBook copies of Michelle's book, Are You Listening? Sign up for Michelle's weekly emails Follow Michelle Layer Rahal on Instagram Access Julie's Free Resource Library filled with helpful tools to stay encouraged and inspired Check out the Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook-
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129. Why Today Is the Greatest Day to Be Alive
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
This perspective will change our lives! January can be a challenging month for many, including Julie as she shares in this episode. But a fresh perspective encouraged her heart this week, and it will, no doubt, encourage yours! This is the greatest day to be alive! Tune in to find out why. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. I came to a profound perspective over the weekend: Today is the greatest day to be alive. Yet, January is my least favorite month of the year. There, I said it. It's cold here in Iowa. Bitterly cold. I've spent every winter since my birth in this bitter Iowa cold, and as I age, it doesn't seem to get any easier. Two weeks ago it was -17 degrees one morning. That's not the wind chill, that was the actual temperature. Yikes! Also two weeks ago we received close to two feet of snow. I never heard the exact amount, but my husband said two feet, so I'll take his word for it. We were snowed in for three days, until our neighbor came by with his tractor and scooped a path down the road so my husband could get to work. So, you can maybe understand why January is not my favorite. But my friend and fellow Iowan, Jennifer Dukes Lee, helped me see winter through fresh eyes last year, and that winter is a time for a slower pace, for restoration, for rest, and for hibernation (for animals, the earth, and even for us). I learned to embrace winter last year, and I'm happy to report this new perspective has carried through this year so far as well. But the thing is, my pondering over the weekend led me past the weather, past the time or the season of the year, and even past my current circumstances. My pondering led me to a truth God taught me as I wrote my book, Right Now Matters. That truth is this: Right now is the greatest moment to be alive. Which also means: Today is the greatest day to be alive. I share why, including the truth that today is the greatest day to be alive because God created this day, and also what God has to say about it in His Word. And, we make space for the real life issues of difficult circumstances, depression, and anxiety that can affect us, especially during the winter months. I also share four ways to can live as if today is the greatest day to be alive! I say we begin today. Friend, what joy it is to embrace the truth that this is the greatest day to be alive. Go out there and make a difference in your corner of the world today. People need your presence and your gifts that only you can give, maybe now more than ever. I'm cheering you on today and every day. Thanks for being here. God bless you! Links in this episode: 2 Corinthians 6:2 NIV Psalm 118:24 NLT Hebrews 3:13 Voice Find my book Right Now Matters and the Right Now Matters Bible Study here Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook Access my Free Resource Library to encourage your heart here-
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128. Are We Missing Moments We Will Never Get Back?
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
Our life moments are too important to miss! When you think back over your life, have there been priceless moments you missed that you know you will never get to live again? Julie shares one that changed her life, and she shares it from the Introduction of Right Now Matters in this episode. You won't want to miss this one! Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Beginning this week, I'm leading two groups of women through the Right Now Matters Bible Study for five weeks, and I'm so completely excited about it. As I was preparing for our first time together, I recounted in my mind a pivotal moment in my life. I've thought about this moment so often, because I think many of us have experienced something similar. I missed an important life moment, not because I was physically absent, but because I was mentally absent by distractions. I share it in detail in the Introduction of Right Now Matters, and I thought it might be wise and helpful to share it in today's episode. It might just bring to light how often we are missing moments we will never get back. So, I do. Are we missing moments we will never get back? From my experience and from hearing the stories of numerous other women, we are. Whether it's a moment with our children or grandchildren, a moment with our spouse or a friend, or some special instance God wants to bless us through, distractions will always prevent us from experiencing it in all its fullness. Distractions rob us of more than we realize. I wonder how many times God has tried to blessed me in some particular way, yet I missed it because I was distracted! Think of a time when you missed something important--a moment you'll never get back--because of some distraction. It's not a fun memory to return to, I know, but in doing so, we can learn from it and heal from it. Ignoring it or pretending it didn't happen doesn't make it go away. Trust me, I've learned this the hard way. But when we return to it, when we address it, it's not to relive it to punish ourselves are to make us feel bad all over again. No. But we return to it, we release it of any negative influence it may have on our lives today. Plus, it gives us the opportunity to learn from it so it doesn't happen again and so we're not missing moments we will never get back. Living distracted is not God's best for us. You and I no longer need to be missing moments we'll never get back. God has a better life for us. I pray we take some time today to seek Him and to begin the steps it takes to live undistracted. Life is too important to live it distracted, friend. I'm cheering you on, and I thank you for being here. You are a blessing! God bless you. Links in this episode: Episode 127, 5 Ways to Be a Right-Now Woman in 2024 Find out more about Right Now Matters and the Right Now Matters Bible Study Check out the private Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook Access my library of Free Resources designed to encourage you daily-
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127. 5 Ways to Be a Right-Now Woman in 2024
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
Life is too important to live it distracted. Who is a Right-Now Woman? She's one who desires all God has for her and realizes there's more to live than living it distracted. She doesn't have it all figured out yet, but she's taking one step at a time with God. In this episode, Julie shares five ways to be a Right-Now Woman in 2024, and shares an opportunity to study the Bible with her! Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Are you what I call a Right-Now Woman? A Right-Now Woman isn't someone who wants everything right now. In fact, I'd say a Right-Now Woman is the opposite of that. She's someone who is tired of distractions overtaking her days and her life. She knows she's missing priceless moments happening in front of her. And she's a bit discouraged by always feeling behind and disorganized. She also knows there's got to be more to life than this, at the same time, ready to receive all God has for her. If this sounds like you, well friend, allow me to share some good news with you. You are a Right-Now Woman! A Right-Now Woman doesn't have the undistracted life mastered, but she's aware that's the life she desires to live. You, like me, don't have it all figured out yet, but we're ready to step into the abundant lives Jesus came to give us. We can't step into this kind of life, however, if we're living distracted. I say often, this life is too important to live it distracted. How we live this life matters in the next--eternity. So, it's wise to live in each moment and stay present in these God-blessed and -given lives, don't you think? So, how do we do this? How can we live as Right-Now Women in a culture that is overwhelmed with distractions? I share five ways to be a Right-Now Woman in 2024. Also, beginning next week I'm hosting two Bible study groups to walk through the Right Now Matters Bible Study together. I released this brand-new Bible study two weeks ago today! It's a 28-day guided adventure to living as a Right-Now Woman. This multifaceted guide helps us go deeper with God and with ourselves as we embrace and learn how to live undistracted lives. We dig into Scripture and see what God has to say about living undistracted. We are guided to apply Scripture and Biblical lessons to our lives. And we have some fun along the way. One group is meeting online on Zoom on Mondays, and the other group is meeting in person in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Thursdays. All the details and registration are found in the link in the show notes. I would love to walk through this study and dig into God's Word with You! In closing, I pray God blesses you in every way today, tomorrow, and in the year ahead. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, fellow Right-Now Woman. I am proud of you! God bless you! Links in this episode: Join the Right Now Matters Bible Study groups beginning January 15! Find my books Right Now Matters and the Right Now Matters Bible Study here Visit rightnowmatters.com Stay encouraged with Free Resources designed just for you! Check out the private Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook-
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126. Walking Into 2024 Worry Free with a Word
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
Hope and encouragement for the new year. Happy New Year! How are you beginning this new year? Julie shares hope and encouragement, her word for 2024, and some exciting news about growing in the Lord as Right-Now Women together. Don't miss this one! Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Happy New Year! As we are walking into 2024, I pray however you rang in the new year that it was full of hope, joy, and anticipation of God's goodness. As we know, numerous people set new year's resolutions or goals. Some of us choose a word for the year or a Bible verse. Others don't do any of this, or may do something entirely different. There's no right or wrong way to begin a new year. At least in my opinion. I've chosen a word for many years--this is my eleventh year of doing so. Here is my running list: 2014 - JOURNEY 2015 - IMPACT 2016 - BELIEVE 2017 - LIVE 2018 - ADVENTURE 2019 - REVIVE 2020 - OPEN 2021 - CONNECT 2022 - DELIGHT 2023 - UNCOMFORTABLE I pause to comment on last year's word--uncomfortable--before sharing my word for 2024, because it's worth pondering. That word absolutely changed my life! Did you choose a word for the year? If so, how did it impact you? My word for 2024 is WALK. I share why and how, and where I'm beginning with it today--both spiritually and physically--and my Bible verse for the year. Walking into 2024, I'm excited about my word for this year, and I look forward to seeing how God will use it in my life. Are you choosing a word for this year or any particular goals or resolutions? What are you looking forward to in 2024? I'm excited to share with you something that might help us live as Right-Now Women this year--women who walk with God in the right-now moment. I shared in last week's episode that the companion to Right Now Matters, the Right Now Matters Bible Study: A 28-Day Guided Adventure to Living as a Right-Now Woman released on December 26. I wrote this to help women like you and me go deeper with God and with ourselves this year and to embrace the lives Jesus came to give us as we live in the right-now moment. Beginning the week of January 15, I am leading two five-week group Bible studies, using the Right Now Matters Bible Study. One will be online and one will be in person. The online study will be on Mondays on Zoom from 6-7 p.m. (CST), and the in-person study will be held in Cedar Rapids on Thursdays from 6-7:30 p.m. (CST). There's not cost to attend, however you'll want both books to get the most out of the study. Additional details and registration link is found below. I can't wait to dig into Scripture and grow through God's Word with you as He teaches us what it truly means to live in the right-now moment. I'm so glad we get to journey through 2024 together. Thank you for joining me here today. You matter to me. Happy New Year and God bless you! Links in this episode: Episode 74, Happy 2023! How Are You Beginning This New Year? Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook Episode 125, Ending 2023 Grateful and With Big News Join the Right Now Matters Bible Study beginning the week of January 15 Stay encouraged in the new year with my free Resources designed just for you!-
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125. Ending 2023 Grateful and With Big News!
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
It's a big episode today! We have much to celebrate! We're closing out 2023 grateful, Julie shares some big news, and it's her birthday! Thanks for coming to her birthday party! But in all seriousness, it's an exciting episode! Listen in as Julie shares some helpful ways to end 2023. She also announces something big happening today! Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Before we turn to ending 2023, I'll say it here again, Merry Christmas! I pray your holiday was full of everything that brings you joy and that you were able to celebrate it in a way that the birth of Jesus filled you with hope and promise. But just in case it didn't go as you hoped or you spent the holiday more distracted than you wanted to, I'm praying for you today, too. No holiday is perfect, and it's okay for us to not expect it to be. Today's a new day and today matters. Thankfully, God is with us in it all. Every year when Christmas night rolls around and everyone has departed from our home, I get a little sad that our holiday celebration is over. It's then I think of the following day... my birthday! Yes, my birthday is today, December 26! And I can't think of a better way to celebrate today than with you! So thanks for coming to my birthday party!! Seriously, I appreciate you and your presence here on this podcast. I'm grateful we get to journey through life together in this way. I'm grateful. And as the year is quickly coming to a close, I'm ending 2023 grateful. I'm grateful for much today: for my birthday, for you, for 2023, for my parents (even though they are no longer on this earth) for my family, for my faith in Jesus, and for His presence is my life are just a few. I invite you to end this year grateful, too. Maybe your year wasn't what you expected it would be. Or maybe it was all that and more! Maybe 2023 was full of disappointments and discouragement. Or maybe it was full of joy and celebration! I'm guessing, like my year, it was a mixture of both, great and not so great. But again, thankfully God is with us in it all. As we soon will focus on ending 2023, I share some encouraging ways to do that and to begin 2024. Come back next week and we'll discuss beginning 2024! And now for the big news I have to share! The companion to my book, Right Now Matters, releases today! It's the Right Now Matters Bible Study: A 28-Day Guided Adventure to Living as a Right Now Woman. If you desire to go deeper with God and yourself in 2024, this study is for you. If you've never studied the Bible before, this study is for you. Or if you're a "Bible study master," this Bible study is for you. And if you're ready to experience all God has for you in 2024, this study is for you. Find out more in the full episode, but you can find it on Amazon today. To close out this last episode of 2023, friend I'm grateful for you. I am praying for you. It's been a joy to journey through these episodes with you in 202. Thanks for coming to my birthday party! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Links in this episode: Episode 123, How to Cope When Holidays Are Not Happy Check out the Right Now Matters Bible Study releasing today! Find the Right Now Matters Bible Study on Amazon Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook Access my Free Resources designed to bless and encourage you-
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124. Sound Your Joy on Repeat to the World
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
You have joy, and it's worth repeating. The world could use some joy today, and it'll need it tomorrow, too. You may not think you have it, or maybe it's been some time since you felt it. But our joy doesn't have anything to do with our circumstances or situations. As Christmas approaches quickly, let's share this joy with the world. Listen in to be encouraged. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Merry Christmas! With Christmas being less than a week away, in this episode we are peering into a Christmas carol, that was never meant to be one, and how one sentence in this carol continues to ring loudly above all the others in my brain. Get ready to sound your joy on repeat to the world today. What does joy sound like? Pause a moment and think about your answer. I can think of a few examples. The joy-filled squeals of my excited grandsons when I walk into their home on Wednesday mornings. Or the tune of the worship song I may be listening to. It can even be the sound of stillness with a distant train whistle on a quiet morning as I step outdoors and watch the sunrise. What does joy sound like to you? Now, I know this isn't a typical question to ask, and quite honestly, I've not asked or answered this before until today. But I've been thinking about joy a fair amount lately. What it is, where it comes from, and why it matters in my life. I've even searched online about joy and why it's deeper than happiness. All because I've been stuck on this one Christmas carol: "Joy to the World." In my search, I've learned that Isaac Watts didn't write this to be a Christmas carol, nor a hymn at all. He wrote it as a poem in 1719, so it's been around awhile. It was his Christian interpretation of Psalm 98, and the lyrics reflect more of Christ's second coming than His first as a baby. I can certainly understand why it became a Christmas carol, however, for the first stanza reminds me of Advent and preparing my heart for His coming. But the third stanza points us to something else. It's in the second stanza where I've landed on repeat lately with the words, "Repeat the sounding joy." That's it. It continues to ring in my head throughout this season. Joy is ours, and we each have joy. I share why and how and a few Bible verses to point us to truth. So, sound your joy on repeat to the world today, my friend. I also share some exciting news about something I've been working on for you that will be released very soon! Friend, sound your joy on repeat to the world today. I pray this joy permeates everything we do over the next few days as Christmas approaches. Not only then, but also into the new year. May the joy of the Lord be your strength today, tomorrow, and every single day forward. Merry Christmas, friend. God bless you! Joy to the World Luke 2 NIV Galatians 5:22-23 NIV Encouragement for Real Life Community Access my free encouraging Resources designed to bless you this season and beyond Check out Right Now Matters and Right Now Matters Bible Study-
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123. How to Cope When Holidays Are Not Happy
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
What do we do when life is difficult at Christmastime? The holidays aren't always the happiest for everyone, and if you or someone you know is walking through a difficult season, you understand how challenging the holidays can be. What do we do when the holidays aren't happy? In this episode, Julie shares her experience after losing her mom just nine days before Christmas. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. It's not news to you that life can be difficult. I fully realize your life, like mine, has not been a bed of roses. Life can be down-right hard some days and in some seasons, right? What if it's difficult in this season--the holiday season? What do we do then? How do we cope? I pray this encourages your heart and lightens your load some as we learn today how to cope when holidays are not happy. I walked into Hobby Lobby the other day, and the two Salvation Army bell ringers wished me a "Merry Christmas." I wished them the same back. And for a moment my mind took me back to the holiday season of 2006. That year wasn't a Merry Christmas, and my heart softened right then by the store's doors for each person who won't experience a "Merry Christmas" this year--for whatever reason. You see, the holiday season of 2006 was a difficult season... maybe the most difficult of my life so far. My mom was ill in the hospital, so I spent most of my days by her side, also juggling my roles as mom and wife, business owner, and preparing what I could for Christmas that year. It was a challenge. But by her side is where I needed to be. Until God called her home on December 16, just nine days before Christmas. What do you do with that? Christmas was (and still is) my favorite holiday, yet I knew it would never be the same again without Mom. And how in the would could I possibly make it a "Merry Christmas" for our family? What do we do when the holidays are not happy? How do we cope? When the rest of the world is rocking around the Christmas tree, we're just trying to get through the next minute. When the world shows us images of the "perfect holidays," and we're wondering how we will purchase any sort of gifts for our kids with a lean budget this year. Or when beautiful dreams and hopes we had for the season are crushed into a million pieces and scattered all over the floor. What do we do then? I share the hope I hung on to that year and every year since. It has to do with Immanuel, God with us. My heart is with you today. Even if your holidays are not happy this year, I pray God reminds you He is for you, He is with you, and He's not going to leave you. Find your hope and strength in Him. Because of the hope you have, may Christmas mean something a little deeper this year. For God so loved the world. God is with us. Amen! God bless you. Links: Joshua 1:9 NIV Matthew 28:20b NIV Matthew 1:23 NIV Romans 15:13 NIV Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook Check out my book Right Now Matters Access my free encouraging Resources I created just for you!-
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122. 5 Ways to Stay Present This Holiday Season
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
We don't want to miss one thing God has for us! This season is sometimes termed, "the most wonderful time of the year," but it also can be the most distracting time of the year. In this episode, Julie reminds us what's truly important and offers us 5 ways to stay present this holiday season. If we don't intentionally stay present, we can miss so much, even God's blessings. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Merry Christmas! I'll be wishing you this all month long, because Christmas is hands-down my favorite holiday. It is. I love everything about it. Especially the heart of Christmas--Jesus. There's a special joy in the air and the twinkling lights add a beautiful touch to the spirit of Christmas. Just last night, looking out our north windows I could see for miles numerous clusters of Christmas lights from people's homes and farms scattered over the horizon against the dark backdrop of a moonlight sky. The sight made me nearly gasp. Over there years I've noticed a few, but nothing like I beheld last night. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year for this girl. I'm learning to stay present this holiday season! Now I know, I don't represent every single person's feelings on this holiday, because some of us don't care for it. Some of us believe it's too commercialized, too depressing, too exhausting, or too over-the-top. I can certainly appreciate and understand all of these views. I understand how this season can be difficult and stressful and discouraging. The year my mom passed away nine days before Christmas was difficult to say the least. So, please know, however you feel about this holiday season, you have space here with me. I'm with you and I am praying for you--I'm praying for each of us! No matter how we feel about it, one very important point is to stay present in it. Because who wants to miss one moment of what God has for us in this season? Not me, and I'm guessing not you, either. The thing is, if we don't stay present, that's exactly what happens. We miss what God is doing in our lives, in the lives of those around us, and in the world around us. When we live distracted, we miss what's truly special in this season. In this episode I share 5 ways to stay present this holiday season. They aren't complicated or difficult, but they help us live in the moment and not miss what's important. These five ways not only help us stay present this holiday season, but they'll enable us to enjoy this season a little more! We also discuss the reason why we celebrate Christmas and the importance of it all. Plus I invite you to pray with me. Friend, I pray your holiday season is filled with everything of Jesus. I pray you are able to stay present this holiday season and to live in and soak up every moment. As I mention in my book, Right Now Matters, God is with us right now, and this is the reason right now does matter. May you feel His presence, His peace, and see His provision this season in your life. Thanks for being here today. Merry Christmas and God bless you! Links in the episode: Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG Check out Right Now Matters Access my Free Resources to encourage your heart-
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You'll be encouraged and inspired for the Advent season. God desires to dwell with His people. Let this truth sink in today because it's a powerful one! In this episode Julie and guest, Rachel Fahrenbach, discuss this, faith, the Advent season, and a brand-new tool to help us prepare our hearts for our coming Savior in this season. You don't want to miss this one! Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. You are in for a treat today! Here's a truth--a big truth--for today and every day: God wants to dwell with you. Have you ever thought about that? When I pause to ponder this truth, I'm in awe. God wants to dwell with me? Me? Really? Well, if you remember, the last Tuesday of each month I have a guest on the podcast, and today my guest is none other than the wonderful Rachel Fahrenbach. I hear Rachel say this sentence often, of how God desires to dwell with His people, and each time I do, it blesses me so. Rachel is a friend of mine, and I met her through our writing world a number of years ago. Each Monday morning, however, I'm a part of a small band of women who meet online for a prayer group in which Rachel leads us. That's where I've really gotten to know her, and let me tell you, she's the real deal. We met up last week and we had a great conversation about life, God, the encouragement found in our faith, and her new Advent book, Dwell. I'm sharing this conversation today in this episode. I think you'll be encouraged and blessed! Rachel reminds us: God desires to dwell with His people. Aren't you excited to get your free ebook of Dwell? You can access it in the show notes. Dwell can be a beautiful tool to take us deeper in this Advent season as we prepare our hearts for the celebration of our coming Savior. What a gift! And if you'd like to find out more about Rachel Fahrenbach, be sure to check out the links in the show notes as well. If you found encouragement and hope in this episode, I invite you to rate it and/or review it from wherever you're listening today, and be sure to subscribe so you never miss a new episode. In closing, may this Advent season be full of hope, promise, and hearts drawn to Jesus. Remember: God desires to dwell with you. Thank you for tuning in today. God bless you! Links in this episode: DWELL Advent Study by Rachel Fahrenbach Check out Rachel's Simply Sabbath resources Follow Rachel on Facebook and Instagram: @rachelfahrenbach To claim the free ebook copy: Go to: dwelladventstudy.com/freestudy Look for the Coupon Code box at the bottom right side Put in the code JULIEL and hit apply Put in your name and email Submit Access Julie's FREE encouraging resources and her new book
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This may just transform our lives! Here we are! It's Thanksgiving week in the U.S. It's a full week as many of us prepare. Above all, may our hearts be full of thanks to God. In this episode, Julie shares a concept that inspired her last week to think of "thanksgiving" a little differently. It may just inspire you, too! Not just for Thanksgiving, the day, but for every day of your life. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Well, here we are. It's Thanksgiving week in the U.S. The week where we are reminded to pause and give thanks. I found something recently that caught my attention: to celebrate "Thanksgivings." If you're interested in celebrating Thanksgiving with a fresh perspective and maybe a new concept, listen in and together we'll find timely hope and encouragement. Not just for this week, but for every week of our lives. As I think about Thanksgiving Day approaching, my heart's desire is to live a life of thanksgiving, and to have a grateful and thankful heart every day. But I'll be the first to confess I don't always live that out so well. I'm not always giving thanks, and I don't always have a grateful heart. Maybe you can relate. Or maybe you follow through with your good intentions of living in thankfulness better than I do. I hope that's the case. So I'm grateful for the Thanksgiving holiday. It's a day set aside that helps those of us who forget or who don't always live our thankfulness out so well. But of course it's much more than that. You know me, I looked up the definition of the word thanksgiving, and here is what I found. Thanksgiving is: a public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness. the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God. an expression of thanks, especially to God. a day set apart for giving thanks to God. Thanksgiving is an act, or practice, or expression, but it's also a day. And don't these definitions encourage you to look at thanksgiving, the act and the day, with a renewed perspective? I mean, pause for a moment and think about all the many blessings in our lives for which we are grateful. When was the last time we thanked God for them? It's a good day to celebrate "Thanksgivings." What britannica.com shared about the New England colonists inspired me last week. "The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating 'Thanksgivings,' days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought." Hmmm, maybe we can learn something from this. I know it's a full week as we prepare for Thanksgiving, but let's not let the preparations pull us away from giving thanks. Let's begin today. Friend, for what are you giving thanks today? Let's make today--and every day--be a day of thanksgiving. Remember this week, I am thanking God for you. You are a blessing. Thanks for hanging out with me here. God bless you and happy Thanksgiving! Links in this episode: Episode 68, Living as if Thanksgiving is More Than a Day Definition of thanksgiving Celebrate "Thanksgivings" statement on britannica.com Psalm 28:7 NLT Psalm 69:30 NIV 15 Bible Verses Perfect for Thanksgiving Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook Right Now Matters at Christmastime - Real Encouragement LIVE! women's event
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119. How to Slow Your Go and Unbusy Your Life
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
The blessing of walking away from the busyness of your life. You live a full life, but it doesn't have to be so busy. What are we busy doing anyway? In this episode Julie leads us through some questions and prompts that help us to pause and ponder, just in time before the holiday season--sometimes known as the busiest season--is upon us. Find encouragement here! Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. When someone asks how you are, how do you typically respond? Maybe with something like, "I'm busy. How are you?" Or how often do you tell yourself or others how busy you are? Today is a good day to step back and take a look at our busyness and just what we're busy doing. Here's your opportunity to ponder how to slow your go and unbusy your life. As I record this episode, we're just nine days away from Thanksgiving, and typically, this holiday tends to usher in what's coined, "the most wonderful time of the year." I love the holiday season, and I look forward to it each year. But many also term this season the busiest time of year. If there's ever a time to be proactive in our intention to slow down and unbusy our lives, it's now. That's easier said than done, though, isn't it? I dedicate one full chapter in my new book, Right Now Matters: Empowering Right-Now Women in a Culture of Distraction, to this subject--Chapter 3. Our busyness is negatively affecting all we do, and the reality is many of us are too busy to live the lives God has graciously given us. We're too busy to notice not only His blessings in our lives, but also the beauty of the moments He gives us. We are a distracted people, and busyness is one of our biggest distractions. But we live in this culture of distraction, so it's no wonder we're distracted on any given day. Whether it's pinballing from one thing to another, or we're attempting to multitask, or we're adding more thing to our already packed-filled plates, busyness is our result. What are we busy doing anyway? I share truths about busyness, and prompts to ponder regarding our lives right now. Plus three Scriptures encourage us in the quest to add more peace and joy into our lives. Is it time to slow your go and unbusy your life? In closing, imagine your life filled with peace, and joy, and much less stress. This is the life that awaits you as you partner with God to live it less busy. I am praying for you in this today as you slow your go and unbusy your life. God has good plans in store for you. Thanks again for tuning in today. God bless you! Links in this episode: Episode 67, The Distraction of Busyness Says, "Be Busier" Episode 86, The Distraction of a Busy Mind Says, "Think About This" Matthew 11:28-30 NIV Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG John 14:27 NIV Right Now Matters book Our next women's evening of encouragement, Right Now Matters at Christmastime, on November 30-
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118. How Do I Know if I Am Living Distracted?
Julie Lefebure posted an episode in Encouragement for Real Life
Here are five indications that will help you know. Do you live a distracted life? How do you know? Sadly, many women today aren't aware they are. They just live this way, day after day, unaware of the life they are missing. You will know if you are after listening to this episode as Julie shares five indications of a distracted life. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. After hearing one of my recent talks about living an undistracted life, a woman asked me, "How do I know if I am living distracted?" She wasn't sure. And she's not alone. Many women today are asking a similar question. In my case, mine wasn't a question. Mine was a statement, "I am living distracted." Because I already knew I was. It was very clear to me, but I just hadn't named it as such. Because once I named it, I knew I'd have to address it. Until the day when I missed an important moment that happened right in front of me. I knew then I needed to make a change. Maybe you know you need to make a change, too. Or maybe you don't, but you feel like something's not quite right in your life. You feel something is missing, or out of place, or that you're not living life the way you were designed to. The things is, some of us have been living distracted for so long, that it's all we know and it's just what we do. It has become our way of life, and it's how we live our days. We may not name it "living distracted," but might think something along the lines of, "This is my life, and I can't do anything about it." Let me tell you today, nothing could be farther from the truth. Life does not have to be this way, and we CAN do something about it. We DO NOT have to live this life distracted. In fact, God did not design us to live our lives this way. He desires us to be focused, alert, and sober-minded. He desires His good for our lives, and living distracted certainly does not come from Him. I share a Bible verse that reminds us of how our spiritual enemy likes to use distractions against us, yet also a promise of Jesus tucked in that same verse. Like the woman who asked that question that day, are you asking the same? "How do I know if I am living distracted?" In Chapter 2 of my new book, Right Now Matters: Empowering Right-Now Women in a Culture of Distraction, I share five indications or clues that help us decipher and answer this question, and I share them in this episode as well. They are vital to stepping into an undistracted life! I pray God is encouraging your heart to seek Him as you begin to take steps to an undistracted life. It's a journey, friend, and I'm so thankful we get to walk it together. Your life is too important to live it distracted. I'm cheering you on. God bless you! Links in this episode: John 10:10 Voice Right Now Matters - my new book! Join my email community to receive the best stuff, but you'll get access to ALL my Free Resources! Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook-
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It's likely more than we think. Why does right now matter? Have you ever given this some thought? Are we living as if right now matters or are we sleepwalking through life? Each day we are given the choice, and the one we choose determines everything in our lives. Listen to this episode and be encouraged as you learn the reality of why right now does matter. Join encourager, Julie Lefebure, each Tuesday morning as she offers real encouragement for your real life right now through a fresh, hope-filled perspective, a lighthearted inspiration, and Biblical insight, all in about 15 minutes (guest shows are longer). Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. The last couple of weeks have been a whirlwind around here with the launch of my first book, Right Now Matters: Empowering Right-Now Women in a Culture of Distraction. I'm finding women are learning the value--maybe for the very first time--of right now. In this episode we're pausing to answer this question--why does right now matter? It may be for reasons greater than you can think of now. Have you ever walked through a near-death experience? I sometimes wonder how many near-death experiences we are close to but never know about. How many times has God protected us from stuff we were never aware of? I imagine it's lots. In Chapter 1 of Right Now Matters I share the story of how my husband experienced a near-death accident while riding his bicycle one Saturday morning. Our family considers this one of those experiences, because God could have easily taken Bill home to be with Him that morning, but he spared his life after getting hit by that white car. Why does it take something like that to wake us up to reality? But sometimes it just does. From that instance forward, I knew I had to make a change with how I was living my life. I knew God was waking me up to the preciousness of every moment He blessed me with. And I had to choose from that day on how I was going to live my life. As if right now mattered or would I continue to live my life like I was--sleepwalking through life. What about you, friend? When you think about your life, are you appreciating each moment you're given? Or are you, like I was, living life on autopilot? Do you embrace each moment or are you just going through the motions in your days? It's so easy to sleepwalk through this life, isn't it? But I don't believe God intends for us to live that way. I believe He desires for us to live our lives with a sense of awe and wonder, of love and appreciation, of joy and peace. In fact, His Word states this as such. I share three verses that point us to truth. How we live our lives matters. God didn't give us our lives to sleepwalk through them. So, are we glorifying God with our lives? It's a timely question to ask ourselves. Why does right now matter? God knows the importance of right now. I pray we recognize the importance of it too. Doing so will absolutely change our lives. Thank you for tuning in today. I'm cheering you on and I'm praying for you. God bless you! Links in this episode: Colossians 1:10 Voice John 15:8 NCV 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV Find Right Now Matters at rightnowmatters.com Encouragement for Real Life Community
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