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Julie Lefebure

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  1. Is multitasking God's best for us? Many of us were taught in order to get more done, multitasking was the key. If we did it well, we also proved our brains were high functioning, right? Well researchers today are now saying something else about this habit. Is it really the best--and God's best--for us and our brains? Listen in for truth and hope! 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. On a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being not very often and 10 being very often, where would you rate yourself on how often you multitask? If you never multitask, give yourself a 1. If you multitask multiple times a day, give yourself a 10. I wish I could hear your answer. We'll share them in our Encouragement for Real Life Community this week. Today in this episode we're looking at the truth about multitasking and just how much it affects us when it comes to distractions. You might find all of this very interesting as I did! She looked at me as if I had three eyeballs. I'll never forget her face. When I told her I didn't like to multitask. She was the master at it. She had it down and multitasked in everything she did. While working out, she folded clothes. While driving her kids to school, she listened to training CDs (this was a number of years ago before podcasting was really a thing). As she made dinner, she created her to-do list for the next day. Now, none of this involved a life or death situation, even though experts say doing anything else while driving can cause distracted driving. But she did two--or more--things at once, all the time. I felt a bit ridiculous in not excelling at multitasking, so I set out to learn from her. Because it was assumed if you multitasked, your brain was a highly-functioning brain. The more you multitasked, the smarter you were! The more you multitasked, the more you got done! Right?? Dictionary.com defines multitasking as: computing the execution of various diverse tasks simultaneously; the carrying out of two or more tasks at the same time by one person. I find it interesting that Thesaurus.com adds the antonym of focus. So, I guess that means focus is the opposite of multitasking? And that's what researchers today are saying. Our brains are not created to focus on more than one thing at a time. In fact, it's impossible to do. Yet, multitaskers believe that's what they are doing all the time. But in reality, they are just switching from one task to another very quickly. Even if it may seem they are doing the tasks simultaneously. We look deeper into what researchers say today about the harmful effects of multitasking and how multitasking doesn't help us get more done, it actually slows us down. I share a couple Bible verses about our brains and minds, and we ponder a few ideas to help us step away from multitasking. Sometimes our biggest distractions come from within, and multitasking is one of them. You and I deserve to treat ourselves--and our brains--better. I'm joining you in this endeavor, in this quest to retrain our brains to doing one thing at a time. We can do this with God's help! God bless you! Definition of multitasking Antonym of multitasking Multitasking Is a Myth The Real Dangers of Multitasking 2 Timothy 1:7 NLV Romans 8:5-6 NIV Brain Basics from NIH Encouragement for Real Life Community Access NEW! Free Resources to encourage your heart (printables, lockscreens, social posts, etc.)
  2. We are called to not just survive them! We each experience difficult circumstances in this life, and maybe you're walking through some right now. In this episode we look at how God encouraged a group of people in their own difficult circumstances, and how we can apply this to our lives today. We can thrive in them, and not just survive them! 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Life on earth is not always easy, right? We often experience difficult circumstances that are beyond our control. Sometimes these circumstances try to derail us or discourage us. But we want to not just survive these circumstances, we desire to thrive in and through them! Right? Our encouragement today comes from how God instructed a certain group of people to thrive in their own difficult circumstances. It's found in Jeremiah 29:4-14. Here, the prophet Jeremiah wrote a letter to the people of Jerusalem who had been exiled to Babylon. You can find this in the show notes, as I read it in the episode. In this text God instructs them how to thrive in their difficult circumstances. So, God’s people were taken captive and forced to go from their home, Jerusalem, to a foreign land, Babylon. Imagine their hardship taken from the Land of Promise they knew, to be strangers in an unfamiliar land. Let alone the journey to get there. Can you image how they desired to return home? Maybe this sounds a bit familiar, and maybe you can somewhat relate. Possibly you’ve been moved to a strange city or to an unfamiliar job. Maybe you know the feeling of captivity, where nothing is familiar. Possibly your life has changed drastically, and you long for what used to be. Or, maybe you haven’t moved and things haven't changed at all. And because of this, you feel stuck in your current circumstances. Life feels as if it's passing you by at lightning speed. You question your purpose, the meaning of your life, and you question if you're just here taking up space. Or, you see others succeeding and prospering and achieving. You can't help but wonder, why not me? When is it my turn, God? No matter where we find ourselves today, find encouragement in this. God has us right where He wants us. We look at the hope we're given today through this passage and what we can learn from it. I add five ideas to thrive in our difficult circumstances. God doesn't leave us in our difficult circumstances. He comes alongside of us and walks with us through them. No matter what you may be experiencing today, I pray God continues to encourage your heart through this example in His Word. Keep your eyes fixed on Him as you bless the world around you. God bless you! Links in this episode: Jeremiah 29:4-14 NIV Encouragement for Real Life Community Stay encouraged through these Free Resources I designed for you (lock screens, printables, social posts)
  3. But what does God have to say? Do you have a busy mind? In a recent questionnaire Julie created regarding distractions, many responders mentioned one of their biggest daily distractions is a busy mind. In this episode we look at what one is, why it's a distraction, and the solution to overcoming it. 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. 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 have a busy mind? Last week, in the spur of the moment, I created a questionnaire regarding distractions and what we are typically distracted by. I sent it out to a few online groups I'm a part of and posted it on my own socials, and let me tell you, the results are enlightening! I'm learning much from those who took this five-minute questionnaire regarding everyday distractions. One interesting distraction stands out to me, and it's one that plagues me often. It's the distraction of a busy mind. Now, I know. In episode 67 where we discussed busyness, I said I took the word "busy" out of my vocabulary and encouraged you to do the same. But for this episode only, I'm bringing the word busy back. Because I think we all know what a busy mind is, right? Arriving to our destination but not remembering fully driving there. Leaving the house for the day but wondering, did I turn the coffee pot off? Unable to fall asleep at night because your brain won't turn off. Or pinballing thoughts such as the car needs gas, my coffee is cold, I need to remember to order the birthday gift, why was my boss so grumpy yesterday?, what will I make for dinner tonight?, maybe she was mad a me, will I have enough gas to get home?, what if we just had cereal for dinner tonight?, looks like my friend on Facebook had a good vacation, I need to warm my coffee, I should text my friend, my hair needs cut, all the while you're replying to an email. Please don't tell me I'm the only one who has a busy mind. And who has had such pinballing thoughts! We take a look at what is a busy mind, what's a major cause, and how we can un-busy these minds of ours. I share three Bible verses that point us to hope and the solution. God. A busy mind says, "Think about this... then this... then this." But God says, "Focus on me." I pray we commit to un-busying our minds, not just for today, but to continue to work at it through God's equipping and leading. Our minds need some rest, too. I'm glad we can encourage one another in this and spur each other on. Our lives will only be as less distracted as our minds are. Thanks for being here today! God bless you. Links in this episode: Take the 5 minute What Distracts You? questionnaire Episode 67, The Distraction of Busyness Says, "Be Busier" What is a Busy Brain? Romans 12:2 MSG Isaiah 26:3 NLT Colossians 3:2 AMPC Episode 83, Are We Called to Be Comfortable? Episode 84, When God Calls You Into the Uncomfortable Encouragement for Real Life Community Real Encouragement LIVE! women's evening of encouragement on March 30 Access my fun, fresh, and FREE RESOURCES to encourage your heart!
  4. God is good at making all things new! Happy spring! It's the season for blooming, and in this episode Julie encourages us to open ourselves up to God's blooming power in our lives. He's good at breathing life into what was once lifeless. How is God calling you to bloom in this season? 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Well, happy spring! Yes! Our calendars shared that yesterday was the first official day of spring. So, I'm glad it's spring! Yet, nothing has really changed outdoors here in Iowa, however. The grass is still brown. The tress are still bare. And everything still seems dormant. But just knowing spring is here has added a little lift to my step. You, too? I love a new season, don't you? I love the changing of the seasons. Especially moving from winter into spring. Because everything that looked dead and lifeless comes back to life. Everything that was barren gives birth to newness. And everything that was frigid and dull and gray bursts forth with color. Spring is the time to bloom. Spring is a good reminder for us to embrace the newness God brings into our lives, too. Is now the time to bloom? What does that even mean? To bloom? I mean, sure, we know flowers and plants bloom. We see it happening before our eyes in spring and summer. But how can you and I bloom? We're not flowers or plants. No, we aren't. But, that doesn't mean we aren't to bloom. What does it mean to you to bloom? I share the definition of bloom and three different examples of people in the Bible who bloomed, right where they were. They encourage us in our own real-life situations. We bloom for our growth, for the good of others, and for His glory. So, how is God calling you to bloom today? In what ways has He equipped you over the last season to bloom in this one? If you're local to me, every quarter I host an evening of encouragement for women called, Real Encouragement LIVE! These are girls' night out kind of events where we gather to be inspired, encouraged, and have some fun. Our next one is on this very subject, Bloom Where You Are Planted, and it's March 30 at 6:30 p.m. in Cedar Rapids. I'd love to have you join me for this fun evening out! I'm cheering you on, friend. May this new season be filled with beautiful and bountiful blooms. God bless you! Links in this episode; Revelation 21:5 NLT Isaiah 43:19 VOICE Definition of bloom Synonyms of bloom Esther Esther 1-10 NIV Ruth Ruth 1-4 NIV Joseph Genesis 37-47 NIV Matthew 5:16 VOICE Episode 83, Are We Called to Be Comfortable? Episode 84, When God Calls You Into the Uncomfortable Details and tickets for March 30 Real Encouragement LIVE! Encouragement for Real Life Community Stay encouraged with my Free Resources like printables, lock screens, and social posts.
  5. What uncomfortable thing is God calling you to? Is God calling you to something that's completely uncomfortable? Well, if so, you're not alone. Julie shares in this episode about the time when God called her into a world she knew nothing about, to care for people she was scared of. You'll never believe what God did through that place to transform her life. Listen in and be encouraged for whenever, wherever, or whatever God calls you to. 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Is God calling you to something you're just not sure about? Or something that's making you feel uneasy and a bit uncomfortable? Well, that seems to be what God does, don't you agree? Because God's plans for our lives are always bigger and better than ours. And He grows us through what He calls us to. Today we're picking up where we left off in last week's episode where I began to share my story of when God called me to my own Nineveh. Maybe He's calling you to yours, too? Together today we'll find real life encouragement as we take a look at when God calls you into the uncomfortable. To recap a little from last week, my Bible Study Fellowship teaching leader asked from behind the microphone in class one Wednesday morning in 2009 a question that made me want to get sick to my stomach. She asked, What will you do if God calls you to Nineveh? We were studying Jonah in that lesson and well, you might be familiar with the story. In that question my teaching leader asked, I knew God was calling me to my own Nineveh. Would I follow Him or would I be like Jonah and run? I wanted to be like Jonah, but I knew better. The thought of it all made me very uncomfortable, but the thought of sitting in the belly of a whale made me feel more uncomfortable! God was calling me into the uncomfortable, and I had to follow. So, one Tuesday morning, nervous, scared, and a little excited, I showed up at my own Nineveh. At our local mission to serve the hurting, the hopeless, and the homeless in our community. To the formerly incarcerated, the lost, and the least in the worlds eyes, Now, it's not that I didn't like these people, I just simply didn't know them. I wasn't sure what to expect that first day, but I certainly didn't expect to experience all I did. Going to Nineveh was the best thing I could have done. So, where is your Nineveh, friend? Is God calling you there? I share some Bible verses to encourage us and more details on what God did in my heart and in my life through my time at that local mission. God completely transformed my life! Nineveh can be an uncomfortable place, outside looking in, but if God is calling us to go there, He's going to lead us every step of the way. We can't foresee what God will do there, but we can be sure of this: it will impact our lives and the lives of others. Be willing to step into the uncomfortable with God, friend. He is with you. I'm cheering you on and praying for you. God bless you. Links in this episode Episode 83, Are We Called to Be Comfortable? Psalm 32:8-9 TPT 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NLT 2 Timothy 1:9 TLB Encouragement for Real Life Community Stay encouraged through these Free Resources on my site designed just for you.
  6. Or does God call us to be something else? When God calls us to do something, it's usually something out of our comfort zones, isn't it? Is God calling you to something that's making you feel uncomfortable right now? In this episode, Julie points us to truth to encourage our hearts to follow God through the story of Jonah and her own personal experience. You'll begin to understand it's okay to feel uncomfortable! 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Is God calling you into a place that feels uncomfortable? Do you feel His tug on your heart to do something that scares the bajeebies out of you? Well, good news if this is the case, because this is the subject of today's episode. Even if you don't feel that tug from God at this point, you likely will in the future, so either way, this episode will encourage your heart for now or when it does happen. We will find some timely help and hope for our lives today in answering the question, "Are we called to be comfortable?" Let's get right into it. For 24 years of my adult life I attended Bible Study Fellowship, and one lesson in particular stands out in my mind. It was years ago, and we were studying the story of Jonah in that particular lesson, and how God called Him to Nineveh. But Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh. In fact he didn't like the Ninevites. So much so, He didn't want God to show mercy on them and forgive them. So, he ran in the exact opposite direction to Tarshish. And we know what happened at sea on the way to Tarshish. Jonah was swallowed by a whale. What stands out to me the most in that lesson wasn't the swallowing of the whale, but what our teaching leader asked us from behind the microphone that day. "What will you do if God calls you to Nineveh?" Gulp. God had been placing tiny thoughts on my mind before this day, I knew right then He was calling me to my own Nineveh. Everything in me wanted to run to Tarshish. Everything within me screamed to race the other direction. But deep down, I new better. I knew I didn't want to follow Jonah's example of running away from God, and I certainly didn't want to be swallowed by a whale for three days. That didn't sound like much fun to me at the time, and still doesn't today. I knew God was calling me to step out of what was comfortable, and I knew I had to follow. Friend, are you? Are you willing to follow to where God is calling you? The thing is this: we are not called to be comfortable. God calls us to be uncomfortable. To obey, to follow Him, to step out in faith with Him. And all three of these actions--obeying, following, stepping out in faith--make us uncomfortable. Or am I the only one? We look at a few scriptures to encourage our hearts in God's calling, and we look at why we like to be comfortable. We also remind ourselves where we put our trust if God calls us to be uncomfortable. And that's in Him. Stay encouraged, friend! Links in this episode: Bible Study Fellowship Proverbs 3:5-6 MSG Psalm 31:3 LEB Psalm 32:8 VOICE Matthew 16:24 MSG Encouragement for Real Life Community Check our my Free Resources designed to keep you encouraged daily.
  7. Because you are designed to shine! Does life feel a little dark and dreary these days? Could you use a dose of light right about now? Well, God calls us to shine, and has given us the ability to do so as He shines through us. In this episode Julie shares how we can go about making a difference in this world by shining God's light everywhere we go. You'll be inspired to shine bright! 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. God calls us to be lights in this world for Him, and we're taking a look at how to do that today. So, if you're ready for a dose of happy and a spurring on to brighten your corner of the world and make a difference in it, I invite you to hang with me here for this next short while. We'll find hope and encouragement as we journey together! In last week's episode we discussed how the days of winter can feel dark and drab without the sun's warming light. Maybe it’s been a cloudy, dreary, rainy season where you are, and maybe you're ready for some sun. Sure, we are to expect dreary and rainy days every now and then. But, wouldn’t it be great if you could brighten your corner of the world today, no matter if the sun is out or not? Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a way to create the warmth, the light, the boost the sun gives? Especially on the cloudy, rainy, dreary days? Well, friend, I believe we can. I believe you and I can shine light into our own corners of the world and also into the lives of others. I believe we can brighten the world right where we are today. God designed us to shine. For you to brighten your corner of the world and for me to brighten mine. He designed us to be His vessels of light, to shine His light through us and into this world. A scripture passage in Matthew 5 tells us so. We take a look at that and use it as a model for how to brighten your corner of the world and mine. I share five ways we can do that. The thing is though, we aren't called just to brighten our corner of the world just for us, no. We are to shine His light wherever we go, to impact the lives of others, and to shine so God is glorified. God does the illuminating, and we just simply shine. Because He is the light of life. Our world can use some brightening today, don't you think? God fills us with His light so we can turn around and shine it wherever we go. I pray we do that today and this week, friend. I encourage you to get creative to find ways brighten your corner of the world, and I'll do the same over here. You and I can make a difference for good. Let's do it together. Thank you for being here. Shine bright, friend. God bless you! Links in this episode: Episode 81, How to Stay Encouraged When Winter Feels Long Matthew 5:14-16 VOICE John 8:12 ESV John 1:5 TLB Leo Tolstoy quote Encouragement for Real Life Community Stay encouraged with my Free Resources such as printables, lock screens, social posts, and more!
  8. Because God is still at work in winter seasons of life. Does this winter feel especially long to you? Does it seem as if spring will never arrive? No matter if it's a winter season on the calendar or in life, in this episode Julie offers encouragement and hope to lift our perspectives and to enable us to see how God is at work in the winter seasons of life. More than we think He is! After listening, way may not be in a rush for winter to end. 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Does winter feel extra long this year? Does it feel as if spring will never arrive? Well, if you're feeling this way, I don't think you're alone. For a number of reasons, winter can feel like it drags on for many of us. This is the subject of this episode, and since the groundhog saw his shadow a few weeks ago, and proclaimed there will be six more weeks of winter, right about now is when we could use some encouragement for when winter feels long. So, hang with me here for the next short while and we'll find some help and hope together. "This is the first year I haven't hated winter in a while." I couldn't believe it when these words escaped my mouth a couple weeks ago. But they did, and they were true! It's no secret winter is not my favorite. After all, winter in Iowa can be challenging. Especially winter in rural Iowa. What's your favorite season? Do you have one? But I haven't hated winter this year. I usually dread January. It always feels like the longest month ever to me. This year, however, January didn't feel long at all. In fact, it felt short! Why? Well, I pondered this after I made that statement, because off the top of my head, I wasn't sure why. But the more I thought about it, I believe it's because it was the most beautiful January I can remember in quite some time. And one thing I did on many January mornings, I believe, made an impactful difference. I share the details in the episode. But I know what it's like when winter feels long. Not just the month of January, but all of it. And not just the season on the calendar, but also the winter seasons in life, too. Maybe you know what it's like too. Because we all have them. The dark, bleak, bare seasons, when life feels heavy and a little hopeless. And maybe you're walking through one right now. Maybe you're finding yourself in a winter season of life and you're ready for spring to arrive asap! In it I share encouragement from God's Word, and hope for the season we are in right now. Because God is still at work in winter seasons. If if this winter feels long. No season lasts forever, on our calendars and in life. and before long, the new season will be here. But while we're here, let's choose to make the best of it. Let's choose to see not only the good in each day, but God in each day. Because God is bringing good out of this winter season. Stay encouraged and God bless you. Links in this episode: Episode 80, The Distraction of the Past Says, "Stay Stuck Here" Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV Psalm 46:1-3 NIRV Psalm 28:7 NLT Encouragement for Real Life Community Stay encouraged with my Free Resources
  9. But living in the past is not God's best for us. Are you distracted by the past? Either good instances or not-so-good ones can pull us away from living in the moment. In this episode we explore both sides of this distraction and what we can do to overcome it. The past does not have to keep us away from living abundant lives God has for us now. 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. For some time now we've been exploring the many different distractions that can plague us on any given day. Since I'm called to help women live encouraged and less distracted, we've covered many of these, but the list of distractions seem to be endless! How is it possible to live less distracted? Well, we do all we can to live in the moment. In last week's episode we discussed the distraction of the future, and today we're heading in the opposite direction. We're discussing the distraction of the past. I have a love-hate relationship with my past. Maybe you do, too. Because we each have both--good instances and not so good instances--in our pasts. And I think some of the good things I've done and the things I achieved in my past. But also in my past are the things I'd rather forget. The unpleasant experiences and circumstances I've walked through. The mistakes I've made and the sins I've committed. And the hurts, heartaches, headaches, and hard moments for me and the ones I've caused for others. We each have good and bad in our pasts. And this is where the distraction of the past enters the scene. When the distraction of the past entices us from the present, we miss what's happening right here. And that enticement away from the present may contain something positive in our pasts or something negative. The past doesn't have to stop us from living in the present. Because that's not God's best for us. The distraction of the past says, "Stay stuck here." But God says, "Stay present with me." I share a little of my story dealing with the distraction of the past, and three Bible verses to encourage our hearts on the subject. I offer a prayer and suggest following God's lead in overcoming this distraction. It's wise to remember this: the past is in the past. No matter what you've done or haven't done. No matter what you've achieved or haven't achieved. God is using all of your past for your good and His glory today. He has used your past to grow you into the person you are today, but God's plans are for you not to stay back there. He has good plans for you for today. Stay present, friend! God bless you! Links in this episode: Episode 79, The Distraction of the Future Says, "Live There Now" 2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV Isaiah 43:18-19 MSG Ecclesiastes 7:10 NLT Ephesians 5:15-16 VOICE Encouragement for Real Life Community Find additional Free Resources to encourage your heart at julielefebure.com
  10. But is living in the future God's best for us? Are you distracted by the future? Yes, surprisingly, this distraction can be a big one for many, including Julie. When we live in the future, we miss what's happening in the present. Julie shares two personal stories of both sides of this distraction. Get ready to be enlightened and encouraged to stop this devastating distraction in 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. 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 distracted by the future? Today's episode focuses on a distraction that I believe is another one that many don't consider a typical distraction. The distraction of the future has two different sides to it, and we are looking at both. Let's find some help and hope regarding this distraction today. I was reminded a few weeks ago of a story from my youth. And remembering it brought out an important truth. How the distraction of the future impacts our lives. Even at twelve years old. The day in my youth when my mom told me her mother died when she was twelve years old, something in my brain marked time. I wasn't twelve quite yet. But my simple mind led me to the thoughts that if my mom's mom died when she was twelve, well then my mom would likely die when I was twelve. It sounds all a bit silly, now that I'm an adult, but it wasn't so silly to me back then. I mean, what child thinks about such awful thoughts?? Well, this child did. All because of fear. You see my greatest fear back then was losing my mom, and that fear plagued me for many years in my young life. I share the full story of that dreaded day when I feared my mother's death. The future becomes a distraction when we allow fear and worry to fill it. But that's not the only facet to the distraction of the future. The distraction of the future can also be a result of anticipating something good in our lives. Like our hopes, our dreams, our future goals. Have you ever dreamed about something specific in your future? Back in 2001, I cut out of the local newspaper the plans for my dream home. I just knew someday we'd live in that home, and everyone else knew it too (because I told them so). Today, however, I don't have a clue where those plans are and we don't live in that dream home. So, what happened? Research suggests two interesting facts about our dreams and goals and the results of what we do with them. One is about fanaticizing about them too much, and the other is the mistake of sharing them with others. We also look at what God has to say about this distraction. The distraction of the future says, "Live there now." But God says, "Stay present with me." The distraction of the future is not God's best for us. He wants us present with Him now, and He'll take care of the future. He'll be there when we get there. Links in this episode: How Our Brains Stop Us Achieving Our Goals Publicly Announcing Your Goals Makes You Less Likely to Achieve Them Matthew 6:34 MSG Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 MSG 1 Corinthians 7:17 MSG Encouragement for Real Life Community Access my Free Resources designed to encourage your heart
  11. Because how we begin the day matters. How do you begin your day? This likely matters more than we think it does. Because each day matters, and how we start the day affects the rest of the day. Julie shares 7 ways to begin your day encouraged, based off her current morning routine. You also might appreciate the lighthearted stories she shares (one has to do with bacon and eggs!) in this episode and the free resources she offers. 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. How do you begin your day? Because this matters, maybe more than we think it does. Mainly because each day matters. In this episode we pause to ponder our morning routines, and I share what I do to begin my day encouraged. I pray this episode encourages and inspires you in your own routine. I love mornings. I think I always have, at least for as long as I can remember. Except for maybe my first semester in college when I worked in the cafeteria, clocking in by 6 a.m., to help pay for my tuition. I did not love mornings then as I was cracking eggs and making donuts, donning a white paper hat. But other than that season, I do like my mornings. Maybe you don't, and that's okay. But no matter if we like them or not, we have a choice in how we begin each day, encouraged or discouraged. Because the tone of the morning sets the tone of the day. And not only the tone of your day and mine, but it affects the tone the day for those around us. I share my experience of that when my children were young and still living under our roof, and also how my mother set the tone each morning for my day when I was young. I believe you'll appreciate the bacon and eggs story. You might just love my mom a little more through this episode and appreciate the kind of woman and mother she was. (She set the bar high for me!) It matters to begin the day encouraged. I share seven ways how to begin your day encouraged, based off my current morning routine. A few may surprise you, one having to do with lemon water! How we begin the day does matter. Not only for us, but for those around us. I pray this episode prompts you to think about your morning routine and inspires you to make any adjustments where necessary. Begin the day encouraged and the rest of the day will follow. God bless you! Links in this episode: Psalm 143:8 GNT Psalm 5:3 VOICE The Importance of Beginning Your Days With Prayer Protein, Its What's for Breakfast Mental Health Benefits of Watching the Sunrise Encouragement for Real Life Community Access my Free Resources, including the Begin Your Day Encouraged tools
  12. So, how do we find the rest we need? The distraction of fatigue is a big one for many, yet some of us don't realize just how fatigued we are and how it's distracting us from living full and abundant lives. In this episode we address this distraction and discover the way to find the rest each of our souls need. 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. We continue to dive into the various distractions that plague us in our everyday lives. So, today we're looking at the distraction of fatigue, and this can be a big distraction for many of us. It's one we can do something about. But, when we think of distractions in our everyday lives, we tend to think of our devices, or social media, or other people. We don't normally think about fatigue or tiredness, am I right? Because we typically don't consider these as distractions. But let me tell you, these can be big for many of us. And the thing is, we may not even realize it. So, how can fatigue be a distraction? First, we define fatigue, and second, we recognize we each are familiar with it. We know how it feels after not getting a good night's sleep, right? We each know tired. And some of us might be feeling fatigued right now this very moment. And the thing is, when we're fatigued, we aren't our best. We often can't think straight. Our reaction time is delayed, our movements are slower, and we often have difficulty functioning like we normally do. We struggle when we're fatigued. Right? Our bodies need rest. Our brains need rest. And our souls need rest. The distraction of fatigue prevents us from living in the moment. And consequently, it stops us from being fully engaged in what's going on around us. The distraction of fatigue is not our friend. We discuss research and a few alarming stats, and we look at what God has to say about tiredness and fatigue. The distraction of fatigue says, "You are tired." But God says, "Rest in me." And that right there is our answer to fatigue. The distraction of fatigue does not have to run our lives. It does not have to dictate how we feel or how we live. No matter how tired we've been in the past or how fatigued we may feel now, Jesus is waiting for us to come find rest in Him. He loves you so very much friend, and He wants to give you His rest. Thank you for joining me today. I thank God for you. God bless you! Links in this episode: Definition of fatigue Synonyms of fatigue What Does Fatigue Feel Like? article How to Be Productive When You're Tired from psychcentral.com Staying Alert: Incorporating Human Fatigue in Risk Management What Causes Fatigue and How Can I Treat It? from Medical News Today Episode 76, The Distraction of Poor Health Says, "You Are Unwell" Encouragement for Real Life Community on Facebook Access my Free Resources to encourage your heart on a daily basis
  13. But what does God have to say about this? Here is a subject we sometimes avoid discussing: our health. Poor health can be a big distraction and can pull us away from the moment we're in. We may not even realize it. But the help and hope we find is in trusting God in our health, and we discuss that in this 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. In today's episode we are discussing a subject I have put off for awhile. Because frankly, I didn't want to go there. It's a subject that can be a bit divisive and can cause a myriad of feelings. But it can be a big distraction for many, so we are going there to find some help and hope and lots of encouragement. After all, my word this year is uncomfortable, so even if we find this subject uncomfortable to talk about, I believe it's important and it's worth discussing. No matter if we're in poor health or great health or somewhere in between, God can encourage us on this adventure with Him. A favorite health quote is this: To ensure good health: eat lightly, breathe deeply, live moderately, cultivate cheerfulness, and maintain an interest in life. --William Londen What does "healthy" mean to you? I want to live a life full of activity, joy, purpose, and possibilities. To be able to keep up with my kids and grandchildren. To live life to the fullest. And to tandem bicycle with my husband for as many years as I possibly can. I desire for my health to be a blessing and not a burden. I don't want my health to be a distraction in my life. I share in this episode the definition of healthy and how Medical News Today defines it. We also look at what God has to say about our health. But living in poor health can be a big distraction for all of us. This episode is not meant to make you or anyone feel bad or good about your health. But my hope is to use this episode to encourage us all to take a long look at our health and make adjustments if needed. Because if we're distracted by poor health, we are missing the gift of the moment we're in. The distraction of poor health says, "You are unwell." But God says, "Trust Me with your health." Because I believe God cares about our health, just like He cares about every other area of our lives. Poor health or good health: it all matters to God. I share the personal health changes I've made in the last eighteen months and we pray together at the end of this episode. In closing, please know, I'm not a health expert and I'm still learning. This life is too important to live it distracted by poor health. Let's trust Him with our health. Our health matters. God bless you. Links in this episode: Definition of healthy from Dictionary.com Synonyms of healthy from Thesaurus.com Definition of health from Medical News Today 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 VOICE Proverbs 3:7-8 NLT 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV EWG's Dirty Dozen EWG's Clean 15 Vani Hari @thefoodbabe on Instagram Dr. Bradley Campbell on Instagram Dr. James DiNicolantonio on Instagram
  14. To see where you've been and to plan where you're going. Before we get too far into 2023, it's important to pause and reflect on where we've been in 2022, and Julie leads us through that with eight pointed questions. Even if you've already reflected on last year, these questions will get you thinking, and will help you move forward. They can be applied to any month, week, or day. Plus, Julie answers each of them from her personal perspective in this 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Today we are choosing to pause one more time before heading any further into 2023, to consciously and intentionally ask ourselves some questions about last year. Because truly, sometimes we look back to move forward. This is something I believe is vitally important in our growth and where we head from here, that I'm devoting an entire episode to this subject. Whether you've done some reflecting on 2022 already or not, this episode will help you live abundantly in these remaining 355 days of 2023. I'll say it one more time. Happy New Year! That may seem like old news, right? Because to me it feels as if 2023 began a few weeks ago, but in reality, it's only been 10 days. Before we get too far into 2023, I think it's wise to pause today and ask ourselves a few reflecting questions about last year. You may have already done a similar exercise, but no matter, I invite you to join me in pausing for just a few moments today, and asking yourself a handful of pointed questions regarding your life in 2022. Because when we ask these questions, and answer them with complete honesty, this can impact how we live and function in 2023. But you and I have each learned some important lessons from the last 365 days. You and I have lived in moments we will never live again. Some of these moments have shaped us, have changed us, have impacted our lives in monumental ways. You and I did some amazing things last year, and they are worth remembering. Asking ourselves these questions is vital and healthy and impacting, not only for today, but for how we live the rest of this year. And doing so now, even after the year has begun, adds an extra dimension to the direction where you and I are headed. It's important to look back to move forward. And that's what we're pausing to do today. I offer eight questions to pause with and ponder, and it only takes about 15 minutes to answer them. These aren't only for the ending/beginning of a new year, because we can use them each month, each week, each day to help guide. us. Again, it's important to look back to move forward. And as a bonus, I answer these eight questions from my personal perspective on the episode this week! As you reflect and remember, I pray God reminds you of His love and His presence in your life. May looking back to move forward become a habit we each do on a regular basis! Thank you for being here today. Have a great week and God bless you! Episode 74, Happy 2023! How Are You Beginning This New Year? Isaiah 46:9 NLT Psalm 77:11 MSG Psalm 143:5 GNT Access these eight questions in my Free Resources on my site Encouragement for Real Life Community
  15. Timely encouragement as we begin 2023. Do you set goals or resolutions or choose a word for the new year? Or are you one that really doesn't do anything different as we turn the calendar from one year to the next? Julie shares some timely encouragement in this episode, no matter how you typically begin a new year. Plus, she shares what she's doing to begin 2023 and her word for the year. (Her word may make you uncomfortable!) 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Happy 2023! The new year is here! I hope you had wonderful holidays that brought you much joy and delight. Getting right to it today, how do you typically begin a new year? Do you set goals or resolutions? Do you choose a word for the year or maybe a Bible verse? Or is there something special you do as you turn the calendar from one year to the next? This is our subject of this episode, and in it I share what I typically do, how I am beginning this new year, and my word for 2023. One thing I've learned over the years when it comes to a new year is this: there's no right way or wrong way to begin one. We just begin. And it happens whether we're ready or not. Because we're each different and unique, we each likely step into a new year in different ways. I was reminded of a powerful truth yesterday when a friend said, "God is not limited by time." She's right. God isn't confined to a year, a day, an hour. So, there's nothing magical or sacred about a new year. Please remember this: this new year isn't dependent upon how you begin it or not begin it. Because God is bigger than all of it. And quite frankly, beginning this new year in the way God wants you to is the way to begin 2023. So, friend, how do you typically begin a new year? What do you do, or not do? How are you beginning this new year? I share in this episode how I am beginning this new year and my word for 2023. I also disclose how it came to be and just how uncomfortable my word initially made me feel. (There's a clue in this sentence regarding my word! Can you guess it??) I also highlight my past words since I began doing this in 2014, and offer a resource that contains 81 ideas for a word of the year for you in case you're looking for one. Again, I want to stress, how we begin 2023 does not determine how the rest of the year will play out. Only God can determine that. And the best thing we can do is to stay close to Jesus as we journey through 2023. Remember how we celebrated Him as Immanuel, God with us, just nine days ago? He was with us on December 25, He is with us today, and He will be with us every day of this year. Thank you for joining me here today, friend. I am cheering you on! God bless you! Links in this episode: Episode 73, How to Set Ourselves Up for the New Year History of New Year's Day Psalm 32:8-9 TPT 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT Access Your Word of the Year idea list on my website Encouragement for Real Life Community Proverbs 16:9 NLT Proverbs 16:9 CEV
  16. Here are five ideas to begin the new year encouraged. We may wonder what the new year will have in store for us. Will next year be better or worse than this year? What can we do to begin the new year encouraged? Julie shares five ideas, and it all begins with the truth of what we celebrated at Christmas: God is 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. 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, the week between Christmas and New Year's. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas holiday, filled with joy, peace, and a whole lot of Jesus. Even though it was just a couple days ago, I pray the hope of Christmas will linger long in your life, and into the new year. May we not rush past the miracle of Christmas and what we just experienced celebrating Jesus' birth. But as our hearts and minds tend to turn to what's next, that being New Year's and welcoming 2023. In this episode we discuss how to set ourselves up for the New Year. Can you even believe we are in the last week of 2022? I can't. I truly don't know where this year went. You know? Maybe the pace of time matches the pace of our lives? (We talked about hurry in episode 71.) But if this is the case, I want to do all I can to slow things down and appreciate the moments I'm given. Maybe you do, too. Have you thought much about 2023 yet? Because ready or not, it's on its way. There's something about a new year, isn't there? There's something about flipping the calendar to that first month of the brand new year. For me it's exhilarating and exciting as I see the calendar pages before me. It's like we get a fresh start, a clean slate, a new beginning. It's as if we're given a brand new chalkboard to write on, or an empty book inviting us to fill in the pages. Or a fresh, untraveled path to journey upon. We look ahead with wonder, with anticipation, with hopeful expectancy. Maybe even a little apprehension and a few questions. Will this year be better than last year? What will transpire this year? What lies ahead for me and my loved ones? We don't know the answers to many of these kinds of questions today, but one thing we know for sure is this. No matter what 2023 holds, we will not be walking through it alone. God is with us. And that's the hope we just celebrated two days ago. We discuss further in this episode what that means for us in the year ahead. I also share five ideas to help set ourselves up for the new year. As we begin to close out this year and look ahead to the new one may you experience good health, abundant hope, and bountiful happiness today and all year long in 2023. I look forward to journeying through it with you. Happy New Year and God bless you! Links in the episode: Episode 71, The Distraction of Hurry Says, "You Are Behind" Joshua 1:9 VOICE Matthew 28:20 NIRV Dave Ramsey's 7 Types of Goals for All Areas of Life Hebrews 4:16 VOICE John 1:16 GNT Encouragement for Real Life Community Access my Free Resources on my site, designed to encourage your heart
  17. You'll not only make it through, but you'll have hope too. Losing a loved one or experiencing loss is difficult. Especially at Christmastime. We wonder how we will make it through this, or if we will. Julie knows all about this after burying her mother five days before Christmas. Listen in to find someone who understands, some hope, and encouragement in your own situation 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. 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 what it’s like to grieve at Christmastime. You wonder how you're going to make it through, right? It was just five days before Christmas. My family and I were sitting in the first-row wooden church pew of the church I grew up in. The sanctuary before me was elaborately decorated with a brightly lit Christmas tree, a beautiful manger scene, and some of the most stunning red Poinsettias I think I've ever seen! It was breathtaking. With such beauty before me, this should have been one of the most special moments of Christmas ever. You'd think so, but this was not a special day. Because I was saying goodbye to my mother at her funeral. I mean, who buries her mother just five days before Christmas? When others are decking their halls and trimming their trees and enjoying all the season has to offer, how in the world do we make room for grief and loss? For a casket and death and sorrow? Just five days before Christmas? How does any of that even begin to make sense? How in the world can we make it through such heartache in the season to be jolly? Mom passed away on December 16, 2006, sixteen years ago. Mom had been ill for a few weeks, but we never dreamed she wouldn't be here for Christmas. At least I didn't. But she fought and fought and had been through more than any of us really knew. She told me the night before she died that she was ready to "fall asleep and let what was supposed to happen, happen." And she did. How will we make it through Christmas without our loved one? One less plate at the dinner table. One less present under the tree. And one less smile, laugh, joyful presence. I had never felt such heartache before as I questioned this myself. I share some ways that helped me make it through the most difficult season in my life thus far and a couple Bible verses that give us hope. I pray this encourages you. It's not about just making it through the season, this is about living hopeful in every season. This season might not be the most wonderful time of the year for you in the world's eyes, but maybe this Christmas will be a turning point for you, like Christmas of 2006 was for me. When we allow Jesus to fill us up with hope and promise, well, that can change everything. It may just make it the most special season of all. We'll not only make it through the grief and the holiday, we will experience the true meaning of the season which will carry us through the whole year. God bless you. Links in this episode: Psalm 34:18 VOICE Matthew 5:4 CEV Encouragement for Real Life Community Access my Free Resources to encourage your heart this season
  18. But God tells us something else. Hurry. Are you ever in one? We think fast, we talk fast, we drive fast, we eat fast. Hurry may be our tempo these days, especially during the holidays. This distraction of hurry tells us we are behind, but God tells us something else. Julie shares insight and truth as we take a look at the distraction of hurry in this 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Hurry. Are you ever in one? Do you move fast, talk fast, listen fast, drive fast? Do you think fast, sleep fast, eat fast, scroll on your phone fast? Or do you feel like you’re constantly behind, and the only way you can catch up is if you hurry? I realized not so long ago that fast is my normal pace. Hurry is my tempo. I wasn’t fully aware of how much until one day when when I chose to intentionally slow down. I decided to work at a slower pace and to not be in a hurry about anything I did. Interestingly, I did really well in the morning. Until about 2 p.m., when I felt the familiar tug of hurry. My pace picked up, my thoughts began to swirl, and I slid right back into my habit of hurry. The distraction of hurry had me in its grip. Here’s a little exercise to try to see if you're caught up in hurry, too. For the remainder of today after listening to this episode, refuse to hurry. Intentionally slow down. Your pace, your thinking, your work, you’re driving. See how you feel. See what rises within you. Be aware of your thoughts. You’ll know if the distraction of hurry is tugging on you. You'll become aware if hurry is your typical pace. And in becoming aware is the first step to making a change. We are in such a hurry! But maybe it’s not our fault. We live in a world that’s in a hurry. We’re told we need to be more efficient, more active, more on the go. Because we’ll be happier when we do three things at once. We’ll find more joy when we’re getting to where we’re going faster. And we’ll experience more peace when we’re climbing the ladder of success faster than anyone else. Because if we don't, we feel we are falling father and farther behind. That's what's the distraction of hurry tells us. The distraction of hurry says, “You are behind.” God says, “Hurry is not my way." We take a look at what Proverbs have to say about hurry and we look to Jesus as our example in this episode. I also share something called "hurry sickness" and one tool that continues to help me greatly in my own struggle against the distraction of hurry. God has good things in store for us in this season, friend, and we don't want to miss anything He has for us because we hurried through it. Hurry is not God's best for us, so let's slow our go today and in the days to come. I'm with you in this, and I'm cheering you on. God bless you! Links in this episode: Last week's episode: The Distraction of Stress Says, "Focus on the Overwhelm" Proverbs 19:2 NIRV Proverbs 21:5 MSG Hurry sickness article Jennifer Dukes Lee Encouragement for Real Life Community Access my Free Resources to encourage your heart
  19. But what does God say? During any time of year we can feel the strain of the distraction of stress, especially during the season leading up to Christmas. This may be the most dangerous distraction of them all. In this episode we find encouragement through scripture and highlight six ways to combat this distraction of stress. Which one will you try? 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. This is about the time in this season that I can get a little stressed. Christmas is a little less than three weeks away, and the distraction of stress affects many during the holiday season. Let's change that this year. I could feel the stress rising. Over the weekend I glanced at my calendar and was reminded Christmas was just three weeks away. I have much to my list: presents to purchase and wrap, groceries to buy, goodies to bake a house to make ready before my family of 30 converges here on December 23 work responsibilities work ahead so I can take a week off between Christmas and New Year's continue writing my book my quarterly women's event is this week. As I wrote these items on my to-do list, that list grew fangs and grew into a beast I wanted to run from. Can you relate to this at all? In that very moment, I knew I had to make a choice. I could either sit in the stress and feel my pulse race and my temperature rise, or I could choose to release the stress and let it go. I could either focus on feeling overwhelmed, or I could choose to relax in God's peace, instead. Because the distraction of stress is good at enticing us away from what's important. It's good at making us feel overwhelmed and overloaded. That's what it does... it wants us to focus on being overwhelmed! And I believe it's one of the most dangerous distractions we experience in our day-to-day lives. Because it not only entices us away from the moment we're in, it negatively effects our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. This distraction of stress hijacks our peace, our joy, and our hope. And it replaces it with agitation, misery, and doubt. The distraction of stress says, "Focus on the overwhelm." But God says, "Focus on me." We look at three passages in scripture that address stress, and I share six ways to combat stress this season. As I mentioned in last week's episode, Christmas was never meant to stress us out, so let's do what we can to live less stressed this season. Next week we're discussing the distraction of rushing. Hang tight for that! If you live close to me, I invite you to join me for our Real Encouragement LIVE! women's event in Cedar Rapids this Thursday, December 8 where we are discussing this further. Details are below. Merry Christmas and God bless you! Links in this episode: Effects of stress article Psalm 55:22 AMP 1 Peter 5:7 VOICE Philippians 4:6-7 NLT Exercise and stress article Encouragement for Real Life Community Real Encouragement LIVE women's event on 12/8 in Cedar Rapids
  20. It can be this year! The well-known Christmas song says it's the season to be jolly. But some years this season has been anything but jolly, right? This year can be different! In this episode Julie shares why this matters and how we can begin to prepare our hearts for Christmas. We're bringing back the jolly! 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Christmas is less than four weeks away! I'm not quite sure how that happened, but here we are. In today's episode we pause to ponder this season and we ask the question, "It this really the season to be jolly?" Because in past years, maybe it hasn't been. In past years maybe it's been anything but jolly. But this year can be different. If you're looking for some hope and encouragement in this season, well, this episode is for you. I'll let you in on a little secret: Christmas is my favorite. By far, hands down, it's my favorite holiday. I still get all giddy and excited for Christmas. Everything about it permeates my heart with joy. And the season leading up to it fills me with anticipation and wonder. Yet, sadly, I've been known to miss Christmas altogether. Yes, someone who loves Christmas has been known to miss it altogether. Oh, I was physically present, but some years distractions snatched my attention away from what was important, and I missed the significance of the season. Other years I hustled and bustled to the point I ended up sick on Christmas. And the year my mom died ten days before Christmas was heartbreaking. Needless to say, it was difficult to celebrate that year. But through all these experiences, I learned many lessons. One is this: I never want to miss Christmas again. I assume you don't want to miss it, either. And maybe you're like me. You've missed your fair share of Christmases, and you know how it feels. And you never want to feel that way again. But the thing is, Christmas was never meant to be a holiday to stress us out. It's not to distract us. And it's certainly not here to increase our loneliness or sadness. We look at why in this episode. Because isn't this the season to be jolly? The famous Christmas carol, Deck the Halls, says it is. We hear the words, we may even sing them, but do we live them out? We sometimes replace the "season to be jolly" with other words, such as stressed, broke, exhausted, overwhelmed. But this year I'm returning to the heart of the holiday now. An I invite you to join me. I invite you to bring back the jolly with me in this season to be jolly. Maybe this will be the year Christmas will be a little more peaceful, a little less stressed, and a whole lot more joyful. And maybe in this season to be jolly we'll experience a closeness to our Savior we've not quite experienced before. Because isn't that what Christmas is all about? Celebrating the hope we have through Jesus? Let's return our hearts to the reason for the season. Links in this episode: Account of Jesus' birth in Luke 2:1-20 VOICE Deck the Halls song Definition of jolly Synonyms of jolly Details and Tickets for "'Tis the Season to Be...," our local women's Real Encouragement LIVE! event Encouragement for Real Life Community
  21. Could it be a way of life, instead? Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday for many, but what if we made thanksgiving more of a way of life, instead? Because giving thanks is a powerful and beautiful way to live. In this episode Julie shares truth of why this matters and how to begin living a life of thankfulness. 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Well, it's Thanksgiving week, and it's a favorite holiday for many, including for me. But does Thanksgiving have to be just a day? What if we took the idea of Thanksgiving and lived it out every single day of our lives? In this episode we're pondering the idea of living as if Thanksgiving is more than a day. Because I believe it is, and you might too. What's your favorite way to celebrate Thanksgiving? Our family has celebrated this holiday in all sorts of different ways through the years, we've traveled, we've stayed home, and we've enjoyed many years of Cracker Barrel's Thanksgiving meals. Yes, the restaurant, Cracker Barrel. I share more about that in this episode, along with how I enjoy celebrating Thanksgiving with Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, with a yummy meal with family, and with watching football. But I believe Thanksgiving is much more than all of this. I believe there's more to it than just one day out of the year. Do we reserve our thanks for one day a year or do we live in this expression of thanks all year long? I want to live as if Thanksgiving is more than just a day. Maybe you do, too? I believe it starts with a grateful heart. Do you and do I have grateful hearts? Or do we have grumbling hearts? What we think, what we say, and how we act are all indicators of what's in our hearts. I share two passages of scripture regarding this truth. You can find a printable in my Free Resources with fifteen Bible verses that support living a life of thanksgiving. Will you pray with me today? I can't think of a better way to close out this episode. Father God, we praise You for the hearts you created within us. We know everything we do comes from them. We've filled our hearts with other stuff besides Your goodness, and what's in our hearts always comes out. Lord, change our hearts. Make them be more like Jesus' heart. Transform our hearts and fill them with gratefulness and thankfulness. We desire to live lives of thanksgiving, because we know thanksgiving is more than just a day. We want it to characterize our lives. To be people of thanksgiving. We can't do that without You, God. We need You. Thank You for who You are and all You do. We love You. In Jesus' name. Amen. Friend, may your thanksgiving be blessed... the day and the life! God bless you! Links in this episode: Definition of thanksgiving Proverbs 4:23 VOICE Luke 6:44-45 VOICE Ezekiel 36:26 VOICE Ephesians 5:20 NIRV Psalm 106:1 NLT Psalm 30:12 CEV 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV 15 Bible Verses Perfect for Thanksgiving printable Encouragement for Real Life Community
  22. But God invites us to do something different. The distraction of busyness plagues many of us. It snatches us away from the moment and keeps us tied to our to-do lists and our schedules. God invites us to live differently, however. Busyness doesn't need to be the boss of us, and we learn how to remove this distraction from our lives in this 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. We're discussing life's distractions again this week on the podcast, because I believe these distractions are more than we think they are. Not only are they snatching our attention from the moment, but more importantly they are luring us away from what's God's best for us. The distraction we're discussing today is a familiar one for many. It's the distraction of busyness. If you've felt the pull of busy lately, friend you're not alone. And get ready, because at the time of this episode's airing, the busiest season of the year is just about to hit us. But the distraction of busyness doesn't have to be the boss of us. "I am so busy." I'm guessing you've heard those words or said them recently. Am I right? I used to be the queen of busy. So, I understand busy. And I wore it like a badge of honor. And when people asked how I was, I always replied with my typical answer. "I'm busy." Maybe you can relate. You feel busy, you can't get ahead, and you continually feel like you're falling behind. Your family knows your busy. Your friends see your busyness. And you don't have the time to do all you want to do. To-do lists and your calendar control your life. And you consistently tell yourself, "There's got to be more to life than this." So, years ago I removed the word BUSY from my vocabulary. Because busy was turning me into someone I was never meant to be. Busy was overwhelming my schedule and my life. So, I stopped describing myself as busy and stopped saying the word all together. The distraction of busyness impacts our emotional and physical health in negative ways. We discuss that in this episode, along with ways to remove this distraction from our lives. I also share a couple Bible verses to encourage our hearts. The distraction of busyness says, "Be busier." But God says, "Come to me and I will give you rest." Which voice will we listen to this week? Which voice will we pay attention to? Because the choice is ours. Thank you for joining me here today. I'm grateful for you and for your presence. Have a great, peace-filled week. God bless you! Links in this episode: Definition of busy Synonyms of busy How Constantly Being Busy Affects Your Well Being article Matthew 11:28-30 NLT Luke 10:38-42 NLT Encouragement for Real Life Community Access my Free Resources to encourage your heart.
  23. But what does God have to say? Do you have any regrets? Are you carrying any regrets around with you today? The distraction of regret can be a big one for many, one that can feel heavy and suffocating. One that pulls us away from the moment we're in. We are discussing this distraction today and how to release it from our lives for good. 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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. We've paused recently to ponder some distractions in our lives here on the podcast, and today we're discussing one that I think we can each relate to. The Distraction of Regret. Because who doesn't have at least one regret in this life? Who hasn't messed up? Who hasn't made a mistake we wish we could do differently given the chance? Hang with me here for the next short while and together we will find help and hope, and a whole lot of encouragement when it comes to regrets. Marlon Brando once said, "I think to regret is useless in life. It belongs to the past." I'm going out on a limb here to guess we've all felt the weight of regret. You and I have both experienced regret regarding something. Something done or not done. What's something from your past that you regret? Are you carrying any regrets around with you today? You know? Sometimes our regrets can be so intense, they become major distractions in life. I believe it's one of the tools the enemy of our souls uses to keep us from flourishing and becoming all God desires us to be. He uses it to try to consume our thoughts, to control what we do, and to keep us stagnant. Because when we're distracted, we are less effective to live out the lives God has called us to. When we're distracted, we can't live in the moment. And when we're distracted, we miss what God has for us in the here and now. The distraction of regret tells us awful things. Such as: "If they only knew what you did!" "What you did shows just how flawed you are!" "God could never use or love anyone like you." "You're a failure, a mistake, a disappointment." "You will regret this for the rest of your life." "What you did is unforgiveable, unfathomable, unfavorable." Because the distraction of regret says, "You did that?" But God says, "It doesn't matter what you've done or haven't done. I love you, anyway." I know how it feels to live with the distraction of regret. And in this episode, I share how I let it run my life. I also share what God did to rescue me from it. We also discuss four ways to say goodbye to our regrets for good. But the distraction of regret belongs in our past. Not in our day today. God has better things in store for us. I pray you experience His freedom and His amazing grace as you release any regrets you've been carrying. Thank you for being here today. It's a joy to journey with you. God bless you! Links in this episode: Marlon Brando quote Definition of regret Lucy Maud Montgomery quote 1 John 1:9 CEV Galatians 5:1 MSG Romans 3:23 NLT 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 VOICE Encouragement for Real Life Community Access my Free Resources on my site to help you stay encouraged and less distracted
  24. Hope and encouragement for us who experience delays in life. Are you experiencing a delay in life? Delays are not in our file of favorites. We avoid them at all costs. Oftentimes we equate delays to defeat. But maybe, just maybe, God could be using a delay for good. Maybe this delay could actually be a blessing? Julie shares a personal story of a delay in this week'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. Each episode will lift your spirits and equip you to be a light in this world. Find extra encouragement at julielefebure.com/resources/. Well, this episode is late. Not just hours late, but days late. And for this girl who doesn't ever like to be late, that bothers me. That doesn't set well with me when I'm one who does what she says she's going to do. Because when I say a new podcast episode will be available every Tuesday morning, you better believe I'll do everything I can to make that happen. Until I can't. And that's where I'm at this week. Or, at least that's where I was. I couldn't. I share in this episode what exactly happened. A delay is not defeat. I think you'll find some real-life encouragement and hope today. It's been quite the week over here. No, wait, it's been quite the couple of weeks over here. You see, two weeks ago my grandsons, who I care for weekly, both came down with RSV. The three-month-old ended up in the hospital with it for three days. And I could tell by the end of last week that I wasn't feeling my normal self. And I wasn't surprised when my doctor told me in her office that Friday, "You have RSV." RSV is a nasty virus. Her words were, "It's the virus of snot," and goodness, it is. I'll spare you the details, but no wonder little babies have such a difficult time with it. It's an awful virus, and it took me down. By Monday I had lost my voice. I couldn't sleep lying flat. I couldn't breathe out of my nose. And my head felt like it was going to explode. So, I realized I physically could not produce this week's podcast episode, ready to go by Tuesday morning. It was not possible. And I had to come to terms with that. But the thing is, one of my biggest irritations is when people don't do what they say they are going to do. When people don't follow through on their words/promises. So when I was facing the reality that I couldn't physically produce this week's episode on time, I felt like a complete and utter failure. Like I was letting people down. I reminded myself, "A delay is not defeat." Because I had a big thing I was responsible for coming up and the end of the week. And I share the full details in this week's episode. In closing, a delay is not defeat. It's also not God's denial. May you and I not only remember this today, but also in the days to come. God has good plans for our lives, friend. We can trust Him always. Thank you for being here today. I appreciate you. God bless you! Links in this episode: What is RSV? Psalm 27:13-14 NIV Encouragement for Real Life Community Access my Free Resources designed to encourage your heart daily
  25. But what does God say have to say? Do you have a tendency to worry? Especially about things beyond your control? The distraction of worry is a big one for many, and it says to us, "Fret about this." But what does God have to say? Julie shares a personal story how worry consumed her on vacation recently. 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. 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 ever struggle with worry? Do you ever fret? I think we each do every now and then, am I right? We don't want to and we don't intend to, but worry can be a big distraction in our lives. It can snatch our attention from the here and now and put it on situations we have no control over. The distraction of worry is not our friend. Corrie Ten Boom once said, "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength." Remember that verse from Matthew 6:34? It says not to worry about tomorrow, and let tomorrow worry about itself. And I appreciate how The Message translation puts it, "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." Amen and amen! That translation says to give our attention to what God is doing right now (that's living undistracted!), but when we worry, we can't possibly do that. I can get caught up in worry. No, I don't intend to and I don't want to, but I can worry with the best of them. Maybe you can relate. And when I do, it distracts me from the moment I'm in and takes my focus off of what's important. I share a real-life example of how I worried regarding a text my daughter sent me when my husband and I were in Florida last month on vacation. This worry caused me to forget all I knew and made me feel physically ill. And that's what the distraction of worry does. We discuss that more in detail in this episode, and we highlight a few Bible verses to that speaks straight to the distraction of worry. I also share two alarming statistics from a study at Penn State regarding what we worry about. The distraction of worry is not God's best for us. The distraction of worry can certainly grab us in ways maybe other distractions don't, but we don't have to give in to it. Free yourself from the burden of this distraction of worry. I'm doing this right along with you, friend. Thank you for journeying alongside of me. I'm grateful for you today. God bless you! Links in this episode: Matthew 6:34 MSG How Worry Affects the Body Definition of worry Psalm 37:8b TLB Luke 12:22-26 VOICE Philippians 4:6-7 MSG William James quote Penn State study on worries Access the free printable Helpful Verses About Worry on my Free Resources page. Encouragement for Real Life Community
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