Ready for a fresh start this fall? There's something almost magical about September that sparks that "new beginning" feeling in all of us – whether we have school-aged children or not. But as we embrace this seasonal reset, I'm challenging us to think differently about excellence.
What if true excellence isn't found in those picture-perfect moments worthy of sharing online, but rather in the small, faithful choices we make when no one's watching? Drawing inspiration from Philippians 4:8, I'm exploring how excellence grows through consistent habits, intentional routines, and biblical discipline in our ordinary days.
Our habits are the unseen architects of our lives, quietly building the framework for who we're becoming. Something as simple as making your bed each morning isn't just about tidiness – it's a declaration that you're choosing order, stewardship, and intention to start your day. These small actions compound over time, ultimately shaping our character and trajectory.
I'm sharing a simple but powerful morning routine framework that has transformed my approach to each day: time with the Lord through scripture and prayer, mental clarity through planning, and physical reset through movement and nourishment. The specific implementation will look different depending on your season of life, but these elements create a foundation for excellence that ripples through everything else.
Biblical discipline often gets a bad reputation because our brains naturally avoid anything that seems difficult or uncomfortable. Yet Hebrews 12:11 reminds us that while discipline isn't pleasant in the moment, it ultimately produces "a harvest of righteousness and peace." I never imagined I'd be excited to wake up at 5am for quiet time with God, but that's exactly what biblical discipline does – it transforms obligation into anticipation.
As you embrace this season, remember that excellence is faithfulness in the ordinary. What small step will you take today? Subscribe now for weekly encouragement as we pursue excellence together!
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You can find me on Instagram @mrs.leannetuggle or you can email me at leanne.tuggle@gmail.com. I love hearing from you!
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Episode Transcript
Welcome back to Whatever is Excellent, season 4.
I am so honored to be heresharing more encouragement and
inspiration with you as we enterinto the fall season, and I
cannot believe that it has beenalmost one year since I started
this podcast.
Time flies More celebrations tocome at the end of the month on
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that but know that I am sograteful for each of you.
Your feedback and thoughts oneach of these episodes is truly
such a gift.
I'm excited to dive into thisseason and to kick it off.
We are going back to the basicstoday.
As many of you know, myinspiration for this podcast
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began with Philippians 4.8,which says Finally, brothers and
sisters, whatever is true,whatever is noble, whatever is
right, whatever is pure,whatever is lovely, whatever is
admirable, if anything isexcellent or praiseworthy, think
about such things.
That tiny little section ifanything is excellent has led to
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countless hours of journalingand praying and writing.
What does it mean to pursueexcellence?
What does excellence in themidst of the ordinary look like
for you or for me?
So, as the kids head back toschool, I am inviting you to go
back to the basics with me.
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Let's start this fall seasonwith intention by embracing
rhythms of excellence throughour habits, our routines and our
biblical discipline.
Something I noticed this yearwith the transition from summer
to fall was how minor it seemed.
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Now, that has not always beenthe case, but as I have learned
more about pursuing excellenceand establishing rhythms and
routines that pull our familymore towards peace and rest, I
have noticed how much smootherthese transitions actually are.
Perhaps it's because we're moreconsistent, or maybe it's
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because I'm more intentional andthoughtful about transitions.
I'm more intentional andthoughtful about transitions.
Whatever the reason may be.
The question I'd love for youto consider is what if
excellence isn't found in bigmoments but in the small,
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faithful choices we make everyday?
I was talking to a friend theother day and we both agreed
that the start of the schoolyear feels almost like a new
year.
Fall is sort of this naturalreset.
In fact, you can find academiccalendar planners in the stores
right alongside with calendaryear planners.
I actually have both.
So, whether or not you havechildren in school, there is
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something about the fall thatinitiates this fresh start
feeling.
Maybe it's that new box ofcrayons or the new colored
pencils, I don't know, but maybethat's why so many of us women
love fall right, pumpkin spacelattes, anyone.
And yet I don't think anyonereally wakes up in the morning
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and then simply decides todayI'm going to grow in excellence.
Pursuing excellence is somethingthat takes time and is
cultivated slowly in the habits,routines and biblical
discipline of our ordinary days.
Recently I was reading a bookby Eugene Peterson called Run
(04:38):
with the Horses the Quest forLife at Its Best, and there's
this line from the book thatreally stood out to me.
It says this we live in aculture where a new beginning is
far more attractive than a longfollow through.
Images are important,beginnings are important, but an
image without substance is alie.
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A beginning without acontinuation is a lie.
New beginnings are wonderful,but it is the hard work of
cultivation that makes all thedifference, and I love that
quote from Eugene Petersonbecause we live in such a
image-driven culture with socialmedia and these little pictures
(05:24):
that seem to be so important.
But beginning is just thebeginning.
It's how you continue, how youremain consistent.
That's the most important thing.
It's what happens on theordinary, boring days that
really makes a difference.
(05:44):
The things that people see ordon't see, the things that are
behind the scenes, behind theInstagram photos.
That's what's most important.
As I have said in past episodes,habits are the unseen
architects of excellence.
Your habits are the unconsciousbehaviors that shape your
(06:06):
outcomes.
Habits are often the littlethings that compound over time
to make a big difference.
Galatians 6.9 says it best.
Let us not become weary indoing good, for at the proper
time we will reap a harvest ifwe do not give up.
You've heard that phrase youreap what you sow.
(06:29):
You've heard that phrase youreap what you sow.
I think that this is referringto habits more than anything
else.
For example, let's take a lookat the habit of making your bed
every morning.
It's quick.
It likely takes less than twominutes.
It's a visible act of bringingorder from chaos.
Especially if you're looking atmy side of the bed, it's very
(06:49):
chaotic.
Order from chaos.
Especially if you're looking atmy side of the bed, it's very
chaotic.
It signals the start of a newday with intentionality.
It provides a sense ofaccomplishment and can even
improve your mood.
And it proves the idea ofstarting small to build bigger
rhythms of excellence.
All that just for making yourbed.
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And if that wasn't enough totop it all off, it is usually
one of the first recommendedchores you give to your children
making their bed.
The simple act of making yourbed is a small declaration that
you are choosing order,stewardship and intention to
start the day.
This is how you train theirheart and hands, as well as your
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own, to begin with.
Purpose One tiny little habit tosow, and all of this is
available to reap in the harvestRight now.
I want to encourage you to takea minute and mentally run
through your day.
What habits are currentlyhelping you and your family and
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what habits are hindering yourgrowth towards excellence?
What small adjustments can youmake in the next few weeks that
will compound to make a bigdifference later on?
Compound to make a bigdifference later on?
I use the words intentional andpurposeful quite a bit when
(08:17):
talking about rhythms androutines.
I believe that routines arerepeatable rhythms that shape
how you move through your day.
They're often quiet, unseen andordinary, yet they are powerful
tools for forming a life offaithfulness and excellence.
These routines are oftencreated on purpose, for a
(08:40):
purpose.
When rooted in biblical wisdom,routines become one of the
simplest ways that we can honorGod with our time, energy and
attention.
So, with this in mind, it isreally no surprise that I find
myself encouraging you to beintentional, especially with the
(09:03):
first hour of your day.
Whether you are a single woman,a stay-at-home mom, a working
professional or a retiredgrandma, how you start your day
(09:44):
matters.
Your morning routine, andreally even your evening routine
, will look different dependingon what season or stage of life
you are currently in.
But this simple frameworkoffers the elements that I have
personally found to be mosthelpful, and it's three things
Time with the Lord throughscripture reading and prayer.
(10:05):
Mental clarity through planningand journaling, writing down
the things that are mostimportant for the day.
And then physical reset withmovement and proper nourishment.
Over the last 10 or so years, Ihave found that I am at my best
when I have used the first hourof my day to do these three
(10:30):
things, which leads me to thetopic of biblical discipline.
The word discipline is not afavorite.
The word discipline is not afavorite.
No one really gets excited whenthey hear that word because it
implies either hard work or pain, and our brains are literally
wired to steer clear of anythingthat might be unpleasant or
(10:55):
painful.
And yet biblical discipline istraining.
It's training the heart andbody to obey and follow God's
plan.
One of my favorite parentingverses is in Hebrews 12, verse
11, which says no disciplineseems pleasant at the time, but
(11:16):
painful Later on.
However, it produces a harvestof righteousness and peace for
those who have been trained byit.
I love the honesty in thisverse, the honesty in this verse
, and while I recite this versequite a bit to my children, it's
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a reminder to me thatdiscipline is a gift, even when
it doesn't seem like it in themoment.
Waking up early to spend time inthe Word isn't easy, especially
not at first and definitely notafter a long night with a
little one.
And yet the peace that comesfrom time spent with the Lord is
not something that I ever wantto miss.
I actually crave this time.
(12:04):
I have a funny little story,just kind of as a side note, to
underline this point.
We had the opportunity to spenda few nights in a cabin up in
the Sequoias this summer, and itwas probably the first time
that we've been on a trip thatfelt actually like a vacation
and not just like parenting in anew place.
(12:24):
My kids are finally starting toget to those ages where there's
a difference between being athome and then being on vacation,
and we slept in as much as thekids would let us.
We enjoyed those slow morningsand unhurried breakfasts and we
would spend all day at the lakeand we just embraced rest.
(12:45):
It was really, really good forus.
I let all of my usual routinesand habits kind of slide to the
wayside and just really enjoythis time together.
And then when we got back home,I remember being giddy to wake
up at 5 am the next morning,like I literally couldn't wait
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to have my usual quiet time withthe Lord.
I almost couldn't even sleepbecause I was so excited.
I thoroughly enjoyed the restand the break and sleeping in.
But there was just somethingabout getting back to that
routine and that anticipation Icouldn't wait for and I know
some of you are listening to meright now and you are thinking
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she's crazy, who looks forwardto waking up at 5 am.
And I know, I know that itsounds crazy, but that is what
biblical discipline does.
That's what it is.
It's a gift.
It feels like Christmas morningfor a five-year-old.
That anticipation, thatexcitement to be able to spend
(13:49):
that time with the Lord.
You don't want to miss it.
So as we set our hearts andminds on this new season, this
fall season that feels like afresh start.
I want to encourage you to thinkof excellence as faithfulness
in the ordinary.
It is the small daily choicesthat lead toward a life of
(14:11):
excellence, things like startingthe day with scripture, even if
it's just one verse, orchoosing one habit to build, or
maybe even a habit to break thisfall, or creating a rhythm of
rest and renewal each week.
You don't have to do everythingright now.
Simply take the next faithfulstep.
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Think about this what is onesmall thing that you can do
daily to pursue excellence withthe Lord?
1 Corinthians 10 31 is a versethat inspires me daily and I
have shared it multiple times onthis podcast, but it says this
so, whether you eat or drink orwhatever you do, do it all for
(14:58):
the glory of God.
It's so simple and yet soprofound.
In this season and even intothe next seasons, you need only
submit everything you say and doto the Lord, ask Him to help
you pursue excellence on purposeand for a purpose, and remember
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that he is faithful.
Even when you are not, evenwhen we fail in our efforts, he
is always faithful.
He is always faithful, andexcellence is something that
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grows over time in the ordinaryparts of life.
To close every episode thisseason, I will be selecting and
reading a psalm or a portion ofa psalm that I feel best
correlates with the topic thatwe have discussed, and so today
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I want to read Psalm 1, verses 1through 3.
It is my prayer that thesewords inspire you to delight and
meditate on God's word.
Blessed is the man who walksnot in the counsel of the wicked
or stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of
scoffers, but his delight is inthe law of the Lord, and on his
(16:22):
law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted bystreams of water that yields its
fruit in its season and itsleaf does not wither.
In all that he does, heprospers.
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