You Don't Have To Be Perfect Podcast with Vanessa Luu
170 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago -You Don't Have to Be Perfect is an authentic space to talk about life in truth and love.
This podcast started as a resource for recovering perfectionists but has expanded into a place for all to come and be themselves and share their struggles and victories, giving God glory.
The You Don’t Have to Be Perfect Podcast has been described as, Uplifting, Food for the soul, Reassuring, truth-telling, positive, vulnerable, life-changing, real, and a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m so glad you’re here. I hope you’ll share this space with a friend!
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Episodes
Why Does Self-Compassion Feel So Hard to Apply?
June 07, 2024 12:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBDo Christian women need to practice self-compassion? Join the conversation in the newest episode of the You Don't Have to Be Perfect podcast! My guest is Jennifer Holmes, a Biblical counselor, speaker, writer, and podcaster. Jennifer works with churches in people's mental health and relational care by offering resources, seminars, and one-on-one care. I invited her here today to discuss self-compassion. Follow Jen on IG: @Jensnewsong ************************ Other Resources: You Don't ...
Aging Gratefully
May 16, 2024 20:05 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBDo you feel like you're losing the battle against aging? Do you feel discouraged with how you look and feel? This episode will bring life to your soul. Heather's new book, Aging Gratefully, is not a quick fix or how-to guide but rather a loving message of truth and grace. You will find freedom inside the pages of her book and this interview with the author.
Do We Love Like Jesus?
April 18, 2024 20:09 - 14 minutes - 13.9 MB"Somewhere between then and now, the Church, the body of Christ, has grown weak. We say we love, but like the Jewish people of Jesus's time, we've put our own rules and standards around it. It didn't work for them, and it's not working for us." ************************ Other Resources: You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu The Relevant Old Testament by Vanessa Luu The Wilderness Remains by Vanessa Luu
Do You Belong to God?
April 10, 2024 21:52 - 5 minutes - 5.21 MBJesus regards their hearts. He isn't arguing to argue; He's speaking painful truth to them because their very souls are at stake! This is a perfect picture of Jesus's love. He didn't let them believe they were right. Even though every word He spoke didn't change them (at that time), He had to speak to them in truth and love.
Is It Possible to Eat Healthily in 2024?
March 27, 2024 22:49 - 14 minutes - 13.1 MBGluttony is a sin, so I ask myself, am I a glutton? The definition of gluttony is habitual greed or excess in eating. (Definition from Oxford Languages on Google.) By definition of the word, no, but I've wondered, are we a nation of gluttons? Don't we overconsume everything from television, social media, food, and drinks daily? My answer is yes, but is God's answer yes? There are no data charts on what God considers a healthy diet, so we have to use other principles to determine His answer; ...
Nitty Gritty Bible Questions EP.1
March 22, 2024 19:08 - 5 minutes - 5.17 MBWelcome, friend, to a brand new series on the You Don't Have to Be Perfect Podcast; it's called Nitty Gritty Bible Questions- For Abundant Living. In this series, I will share questions that prompt me to dig deeper during my personal Bible study. When I spend my one-on-one time in the word with God, I'm always amazed and blessed by the questions that come to mind and the answers God provides or doesn't. Sometimes, God wants me to ponder longer and dig deeper; sometimes, He wants me to wait. ...
Breaking Lent with Coffee
March 15, 2024 18:24 - 10 minutes - 9.62 MBRealizing that I go out for coffee too often is a good thing, and I will continue to address it with God. I know He will be faithful in guiding me through this earthly journey, but I also realized today that my practice of Lent this year was legalistic and, therefore, futile. These discoveries don't mean I'm against Lent, but knowing that God never commanded us to observe Lent is important. Knowing this causes me to pause and dig deeper.
Breaking Lent with Coffee
March 15, 2024 12:00 - 9 minutes - 4.16 MBI've learned from practicing Lent this year that I really enjoy going out for coffee, maybe even more than I thought. Abstaining from my coffee trips has indeed been a sacrifice. I know that the point of Lent is to sacrifice and draw closer to God, but I realized it wasn't bringing me closer to Him, which prompted me to learn more about Lent.
Should We Think Big or Small When it Comes to God?
February 16, 2024 17:26 - 10 minutes - 4.68 MBhttps://www.ibelieve.com/faith/should-we-think-big-or-small-when-it-comes-to-god.html
Power and Influence
February 09, 2024 16:31 - 31 minutes - 29.4 MBLakeshia is here today to chat about our powerful position of influence. I think it’s going to be an uplifting episode! Lakeshia thank you so much for coming back to the podcast! Lakeshia you caught my eye in your post that said, some of us are sitting in seats of power and positions of incredible influence but we don’t see it that way because the world doesn’t value it much; you don’t get praise or rewards; or it doesn’t pay a lot of money or carry a notable “title” You said that NONE of t...
The Wilderness Remains (Pt.2)
February 03, 2024 13:00 - 12 minutes - 11.8 MBChapter 22 of The Wilderness Remains covers commandments 6-10 of Exodus 20. Enjoy!
The Wilderness Remains
February 02, 2024 00:16 - 18 minutes - 16.7 MBChp 21 of The Wilderness Remains covers the first 5 commandments! :)
Afraid of Losing it All
January 31, 2024 00:02 - 32 minutes - 30.5 MBInside today’s podcast I have with me, Charlene Warren. Charlene is an artist, writer, Author coach, and mother. Through various struggles in her life, she has found her calling…helping creatives fight through things like fear, doubt, and self-sabotage to become who God designed them to be from the beginning. Charlene thank you so much for coming back once again. I always love our conversations! It’s a challenging task to embrace and be grateful for all of God’s goodness in your life while...
Afraid of Losing in All
January 26, 2024 13:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBInside today’s podcast I have with me, Charlene Warren. Charlene is a artist, writer, Author coach, and mother. Through various struggles in her own life, she has found her calling…helping creatives to fight through things like fear, doubt, and self-sabotage to become who God designed them to be from the very beginning. Charlene thank you so much for coming back once again. I always love our conversations! You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa ...
Oh, What a Wonderful World it Would Be
January 17, 2024 19:27 - 4 minutes - 4.6 MBIf we proclaim to love Jesus, we must look to the Father as Jesus did. We must dedicate our lives to knowing His ways. You won't find God's ways outside of His Word. He wrote them down for our benefit in the Bible so we wouldn't need to wonder. The whole world won't submit and follow Him, but I still hope and pray that Chrisitans would. If the world can't see that a noticable difference in how we live, then we aren't doing it right. Jesus lived differently, and people definitely noticed....
Are We Praying Wrong?
January 01, 2024 23:53 - 13 minutes - 12.7 MBHappy New Year friends! Here are some fun announcements! The You Don’t have to be Perfect Podcast is celebrating it’s 5th season. We are kicking off the new year with a brand new episode about prayer, are we praying wrong? You can still find me live on Instagram Monday-Friday at 9am Mountain Time for our Daily Bible Reading. 3 Years ago God whispered, read the Bible live. The big purpose was simple, to get the Word of God out across the world. But I want to elaborate on why that matters. ...
The Realist Talk on Faith and Fear
December 15, 2023 13:00 - 50 minutes - 46.8 MBWe talked about what true faith looks like in the context of fear. Most of our world functions from fear whether they know it or not, but in this episode, we have a real talk about what faith looks like even when you are afraid. It was a very soul-nourishing episode, and I can't wait for you to hear it! Connect with Charlene here: Website:www.charlenewarren.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092187275361&mibextid=LQQJ4d Instagram:@cwarrencoaching *********************...
Does the Way You Live Resemble the World?
December 07, 2023 18:33 - 8 minutes - 7.97 MBDoes the way you live resemble the world more than the Bible? It's extremely easy to get swept away by pop culture and our rapid pace of life, but if you are in Christ, He has called us to live differently. He doesn't leave it up to us to figure out how to live and navigate this life. He's written it all down for us, and His perfect way is beneficial to us! Isaiah 48:17 This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is ...
I Didn't Know I Was an Artist!
October 27, 2023 16:24 - 25 minutes - 23.3 MBInside today’s podcast, I have with me DJ Hejtmanek. DJ has newly retired and now paints full-time. Her mixed media process has emerged and coalesced into mostly an abstract realism style including birds,(I’m sure you know I love that) animals, and portraits, as well as nonrepresentational abstracts. She’s moved from painting on her kitchen counter to an actual studio where she paints most days. It was an honor and a privilege to interview an artist whose art hangs on my wall. You’ve seen i...
Embrace The Mundane
October 20, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBYou will LOVE this episode! What a great interview!! Hannah was such a wonderful guest! We talked about so many amazing things like what does trusting God look like?? Tune in today and join the uplifting conversation ! More about @princesshannahwrites Hannah Pettefer is a 26-year-old Louisiana small business owner, ballet instructor, and marketer. Her first book "Open Hands" will be released this holiday season, and it is a testimony of how to trust God with the desires and disappointm...
It's Never Too Late to Create
October 13, 2023 16:05 - 49 minutes - 46.1 MBToday's guest is Susan Ely. I've been a fan of her work for a long time and am thrilled to have her on the podcast. This episode will inspire you and make you think in a good way. Join the conversation and be blessed! More about Susan: My passion for art blossomed a few years ago, a surprising shift from my identity as a writer and speaker. Struck by a temporary loss of words, I embarked on an exploration of curiosity and experimentation, choosing these as my "words of the year." An untouc...
Is Everyone an Artist?
October 06, 2023 21:00 - 40 minutes - 37.8 MBInside today’s podcast, I have with me Charlene Warren. Charlene is an artist, writer, Author, coach, and mother. Through various struggles in her own life, she has found her calling…helping creatives to fight through things like fear, doubt, and self-sabotage to become who God designed them to be from the very beginning. When Charlie isn’t painting, writing, or coaching clients, she can be found spending time with her three kiddos, Blake, Avery, and Ella, in a small town in California. Her ...
Artist Series 2: Does God Care About Art?
September 22, 2023 19:05 - 51 minutes - 47.8 MBThe apathy of humanity as a collective is enough to suffocate the life out of me, which is why I love artists. Art is proof to me that there are humans who want to do more than numb through each day for no greater pay out than to survive it. What kind of art do you make? When did you first start making art and what inspired it? What’s your personal definition of art? Do you feel art nourishes your soul? Where can we find your art and support you? ************************ Other Resour...
Artist Series: Do You Know the Character of God?
September 15, 2023 12:00 - 17 minutes - 16.6 MBAnnie Weber. I looked through your book and am excited for fellow believers to read it! Your desire for your readers is the same as mine! You want others to know God better so that they can find a healthy awareness of the vast differences between living in the world and living for the Lord, and that is a message the masses need today! So let's talk a bit about Astounding Truths. You have it broken up into 4 parts: The character of God, God’s Desire for His People, Curious Parts of the Bible...
Final, Why Do You Go to Church
September 09, 2023 00:28 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBIn a time and culture that avoids commitment, it's impressive that people still attend church weekly. So what keeps them going? We'll answer this question and more in the final episode of the Why Do You Go to Church series, on the You Don't Have to Be Perfect podcast. I've attended a church service my entire life, and the reason has varied over the years, so I used the You Don't Have to Be Perfect podcast as a platform for this research. If you haven't listened to these interviews yet plea...
Katie, Why Do You Go To Church?
August 25, 2023 21:06 - 19 minutes - 17.8 MBWhat do you believe about Jesus? How do you define church? How long have you been attending church? Why do you go to church? More about my guest Katie Ruga: Katie is a Christian wife and mama to 3. She hosts a podcast for mamas called renewing your motherhood that encourages mamas to pursue biblical motherhood. She also has a one month discipleship program for mamas called renewing your identity. She loves to encourage other mamas to seek God and His word. She enjoys spending time with...
Roberta, why do you go to church?
August 04, 2023 12:00 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBInside today's podcast, I have with me Roberta Thorndike. Roberta is a Christian editor that works with authors and writers of clean content, and today she’s here to answer the question: Why do you go to church? What do you believe about Jesus? How do you define church? How long have you been attending church? Why do you go to church? ************************ Other Resources: You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu The Relevant Old Testame...
Mia, why do you go to church?
July 08, 2023 15:47 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBInside today’s podcast, I have with me Mia Solange. She’s a freelance photographer, jewelry artisan, world traveler, and a beautiful soul. She's with us today to answer the question: why do you go to church? 1. What do you believe about Jesus? 2. How long have you been attending church? 3. How do you define church? 4. Why do you go to church? ************************ Other Resources: You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu Truth and Tools Workbook by Vanessa Luu The Relevant Ol...
Kylee, why do you go to church?
June 30, 2023 13:00 - 20 minutes - 19.4 MBThis episode is part of the Why Do You Go to Church series. Inside today's podcast, I have with me, Kylee Ghabour. Kylee is a supermom of two, one of Southern California's best elementary school teachers and one of my dearest friends. She loves playing all sports and enjoys reading. Questions in this episode. What do you believe about Jesus? How long have you attended church? How do you define church? Why do you go to church? Do you always enjoy going? ************************ Other...
Melissa, why do you go to church?
June 23, 2023 13:00 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBInside today's podcast, I have with me, Melissa Robinson. Melissa Robinson is a wife, and mom of two boys and serves in women's ministry. She enjoys nature photography & writing for her blog, My hills and valleys which is a place to find encouragement in spiritual growth through the power of God’s Word. My hills and valleys is a community of women after the heart of God who seeks to encourage and build one another up through the hills and valleys of life. Today she's here to discuss with me...
Julie, Why do you go to church?
June 09, 2023 12:00 - 9 minutes - 9.21 MBEpisode 5 of the Why Do You Go to Church series! Questions: 1. What do you believe about Jesus? 2. How long have you been attending church? 3. Why do you go to church? 4. Do you enjoy going to church? About Julie: Today’s guest is my good friend Julie Johnson. Julie is a wife and new Mom to her son Christopher as well as a COTA therapist. She lives with her family in American Canyon, California. ************************ Other Resources: You Don't Have To Be Perfect by Vanessa Luu ...
Blair, why do you go to church?
June 02, 2023 13:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBHave you ever been through a hardship? Besides our conversation about why she goes to church, my guest Blair Curtis can relate. She’s just released her debut book, Shipwrecker, A chilling true story of betrayal and how a brave young woman found her way out of the storm. Her goal with this book is to encourage others to navigate life’s storms with God, even if they've previously walked away from Him. More about Blair: Blair Curtis, M.Ed. is a combat veteran of the United States Navy. She ...
Jen, why do you go to church?
May 26, 2023 13:48 - 24 minutes - 23 MBInside today’s podcast, I have back with me Jennifer Kosuda. Jen is the founder of The Art of a Messy House, and is a wife, mom, teacher, author, and now podcaster. After thirty years of battling depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and other battles such as PTSD, she was set free. At that moment, she promised never to stop sharing about God’s love and Truths. The Art of a Messy House four-part book series, blog, and podcast is her journey to do just that. She's with us today to answer th...
Why Do You Go to Church? Ep. 2
May 19, 2023 13:01 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBMy guest today is Tricia Wahr. Tricia Wahr is a long-time friend, wife, and mom of 7 kids who works in the financial sector! She enjoys coffee, spending time with her family, and being on the worship team at her church. Questions: 1. What do you believe about Jesus? I believe Jesus is the Son of God. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one can come to the Father except through Jesus. He is the reason I live, and I want to honor and glorify Him in all I do. He loves greater th...
Why Do you Go To Church? Ep. 1
May 12, 2023 13:00 - 11 minutes - 10.4 MBQuestions: 1. What do you believe about Jesus? I believe Jesus is the Son of God. He is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one can come to the Father except through Jesus. He is the reason I live, and I want to honor and glorify Him in all I do. He loves greater than anyone I've ever known, and all His ways are good. He's the Creator of the Universe and everything in it. He's all-knowing, all-powerful, the forever high priest who has taken away the world's sins for those who accept H...
Why Do You Go to Church?
May 06, 2023 18:06 - 2 minutes - 2.29 MBHey friends, so the You Don't Have to Be Perfect podcast is starting a brand new series called why do you go to church? I will be interviewing people from all over the globe to ask them why going to church is important to them. What are the reasons for showing up week after week, year after year, generation to generation? I hope you'll tune into these episodes and glean a lot. Also, I would love to have you be a guest. Email me at [email protected] and say I'd like to be a guest...
The Pure Ones
April 21, 2023 13:00 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBInside today’s podcast I am thrilled to interview my favorite fiction author, Danielle Harrington. Danielle Harrington is a stay-at-home mom, award-winning author, and hardcore science nerd. She earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry from Biola University and taught high school chemistry for five years before becoming a full-time writer. Her inner fangirl perks up at the mention of Quidditch, BookTok, Middle Earth, and the perfect hand-crafted chai tea latte. Danielle lives in Idah...
Who Are You?
April 12, 2023 23:04 - 8 minutes - 7.52 MBPretend you are not about to read a chapter of one of the most famous Bible stories. I'm inviting you to read Chapter 5 with fresh eyes. As I read through the story again, I was amused. The words and actions of each person are so telling. If you get intentional, you can look at your life and plot in these characters. Pharaoh- The threatened leader. Moses- The obedient yet concerned servant. Aaron- The helper. Hebrew servants- The majority of the population. God- The all-knowing, all-pow...
How Well Do You Know Jesus?
March 24, 2023 13:00 - 34 minutes - 32.3 MBInside today's podcast, we have Dawn Michelle Michals returning! Michelle and I have a deep Spirit-filled conversation. Our chat was so long that I broke it up into two episodes, and I know you'll love them both. This is part 2. Today we cover, the Yuck and the Muck, Don’t Worry About Tomorrow, and Not Everyone Will Enter Heaven. Don't forget to grab Michelle's devotional of Matthew chapter 6. Grab your copy today! 6 Days with Matthew 6: A six-day journey through Matthew 6 The ebook is curr...
Give All Your Desires to God
March 17, 2023 13:00 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MBInside today's podcast, we have Dawn Michelle Michals returning! Michelle and I have a deep Spirit-filled conversation. Our chat was so long that I broke it up into two episodes, and I know you'll love them both. Today we cover what God does with our desires as well as Michelle's devotional of Matthew chapter 6. Grab your copy! 6 Days with Matthew 6: A six-day journey through Matthew 6 The ebook is currently available. Please leave a review! https://a.co/d/9mUypHp Kindle Vella - The Se...
What Kind of Mom Are You?
March 03, 2023 14:00 - 38 minutes - 35.8 MBInside today’s podcast, I have with me Katie Ruga. Katie is a Christian wife and an elementary educator who turned homeschool mama to her 3 children. She’s passionate about encouraging other mamas to pursue biblical motherhood and is working on her own exciting project to accomplish just that. Questions we discussed How would you define the toxic mom culture? How would you define biblical motherhood? What is the biggest difference between biblical motherhood and anything else? What woul...
Embracing Community
February 10, 2023 14:00 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBInside today's podcast, I have with me, Sarah Westfall. Sarah is a writer, speaker, podcast host, and community director for The Stories Between Us. Her writing explores the intersection of faith, community, and connection. At the end of the day, Sarah’s favorite place is with her people. She lives for slow Saturday mornings at home, sipping pour-over coffee with her husband Ben as their four sons play (very loudly). Sarah and her rowdy crew call Indiana home. You can connect with her on Ins...
Embracing Imperfection
February 03, 2023 14:00 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBInside today's podcast, I have, with me, Rebecca “Becky” Gonzalez. Becky is a writer and speaker. She is a recovering perfectionist and people-pleaser, a hopeful encourager and freedom fighter. She embraces the grit and grace of life, love, and faith, and uses her words to encourage others. Becky lives in Miami, Florida with her husband, three children, and their rescue dog, Riley. Connect with her online at beckygonzalez.substack.com and on Instagram @_beckygonzalez. I knew I would love ta...
Impact - Gospel Hope For Every Woman.
December 09, 2022 14:00 - 31 minutes - 29 MBOh what a beautiful episode I have for you today! Inside today’s podcast I have with me Anna Hawkes Cabral. Anna is wife to Luís and mum to three beautiful children named Abigail, Priscila and Daniel. She is part of the leadership team of Vida Nova Church and has a blog and podcast called Unique Mums. Just a few days ago she released her 2nd book, Impact - Gospel Hope For Every Woman. I was blessed enough to get an early read of this book and it is phenomenal! I brought Anna on today to di...
Faith Beats Fear
November 25, 2022 14:00 - 34 minutes - 32 MBInside today’s podcast, I have Lakeshia Poole. Lakeshia is the author of five books and currently working on her sixth. She believes that words have the power to change the world. She loves journaling and sharing the gospel of Jesus as a speaker and spending time with family or relaxing on her porch reading. Questions we discussed: How long have you been living with and for Jesus? When and why were you inspired to write your book?(customized designed curriculum for your life.) How has God...
Sabbath Rest
November 18, 2022 14:00 - 37 minutes - 34.6 MBInside today’s podcast, I have with me, RACHEL FAHRENBACH. Rachel is a writer, speaker, and entrepreneur. She helps Christian fiction writers connect the dots on how they can make an impact and an income from their storytelling while keeping rest a priority. However, today she’s joining us to talk about a Sabbath Rest. She is the author of the guided journal Rest & Reflect and host of the Simply Sabbath podcast & The Business of Christian Fiction podcast. Originally from Chicago, Rachel now ...
Do You Shut Down When Overwhelmed?
November 11, 2022 14:00 - 31 minutes - 29.5 MBBest friends with rest? Too overwhelmed to deal? Unproductive rest? Flight mode. When you feel overwhelmed, do you shut down? Today’s episode is for you? Do you let God prioritize your to-do list? “It’s not that making lists is the wrong things and taking naps is the wrong thing. It’s not one or the other. The answer is, go to God.” More about Nicole: First, I am the daughter of the most high God. I am His, and He is mine. I am a wife to an amazing and godly man and a mother to two ener...
Tired? Rewrite Your Belief on Rest
November 04, 2022 13:00 - 32 minutes - 30 MBOur belief about rest needs to be rewritten. For as long as I've been alive, it's been ingrained into my mind that rest needs to be earned. God does not teach this. He commands that rest be a necessity throughout the course of our lives. It will take some time, but we can rewrite this destructive belief and practice one that aligns with our creator. Inside today's podcast, I have Leslie Moore. Leslie is a full-time homemaker by day and an aspiring writer by night. Though a teacher by trade,...
Do You Believe You Need to Earn Your Rest?
November 04, 2022 13:00 - 32 minutes - 30.1 MBInside today's podcast, I have with me Leslie Moore. Leslie is joining our conversation on what to do when you're tired. Do you feel like you have to earn your rest? We are supposed to do the work God has called us to do but is the work that consumes your day the work that God has called you to do?? Good question, right? We discuss this question in an upcoming episode of the What To Do When You’re Tired series on the podcast. I hope you’ll tune in and join the conversation. Our belief ab...
Roberta- Tired? Rewrite Your Standards
October 28, 2022 13:00 - 33 minutes - 31.4 MBMany of us are vacillating between exhaustion and overwhelm as a way of life. We do this because of the unwritten standards we have spoken to ourselves over our lifetime. The good news is we can rewrite those standards and line them up with Gods. If you're like me, you've been living by standards that you thought were God's, but it's because you misinterpreted the true intention they were given in. More about Roberta! Roberta is a freelance editor and proofreader living in Northern Califo...