Playfully Faithful Parenting: Encouraging Christian Mamas to Disciple & Discipline with Play & Joy

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Micah 7:7. This verse is a turning point from misery to hope because Micah knows he can call out to God and God will hear him. Your Turn to Play: Play telephone with your kiddos, but assure them that their prayers never get lost or confused with God. You can do it, mama! Verses from the episode: Micah 7:7 Links: (This may contain some affiliate li...

Episode Summary: In today’s episode, I share 5 verses on identity for you and your child to cling to when overwhelmed or triggered. This helps you to speak the message from the Foundation of the Connected Families Framework: Child, you are SAFE with me! Your Turn to Play:      Teach your kids playful declarations from God’s Truth! To sign up for coaching, send me an email...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Acts 15:11. The Holy Spirit reminds us that we can’t save our kids no matter how good our parenting is, and we can’t save ourselves no matter how good our parenting is. Your Turn to Play:       Write your pressures on paper, ball ‘em up, and throw them in the trash (basketball-style). Invite your kids to do the same....

Episode Summary: God is so faithful and recently has been weaving many resources together for me. In today’s episode, I share a few of the books I have been reading and the theme of them and what God has been teaching me, and it’s all about grace and humility. A few of today’s topics include: Mom Set Free  and When Strivings Cease God-smart vs God-connected kids Creating Windows and Framing y...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Luke 18:1-8, the Parable of the Persistent Widow.  I love the freedom this parable gives me to keep coming back to God until he changes the situation or changes my heart. I also share about the Connected Families Peace Process and how I need to do better modeling this example of God’s unconditional love with my kids. Your Turn to Play:  ...

Episode Summary: In today’s episode, I share 3 ways to encounter God with babies and toddlers: nature, music, and feelings. Your Turn to Play: Get outside! Make music! Tell God your baby's feelings and trust he hears! Verses from the episode: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Romans 1:10 Psalm 8:2 Luke 1:41 Matthew 18:6 Links from the episode: (This may contain some affiliate links, which means I receive a small...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Isaiah 26:3. I break down the verse and share some powerful definitions in the text for you mama.  Rest your mind in him for he provides genuine peace. Your Turn to Play:      Draw an arrow facing up on your wrist or hand to remind you to rest in God. You can do it, mama! Verses from the episode: Isaiah 26:3 Philippia...

Episode Summary: Let me introduce you to Julie Parido. She is the creator of the new book Draw the Verse .  This playful tool is a great addition to our libraries for Family Discipleship. Julie’s Bio: Julie Parido is a Christ-follower, wife to Mike, and homeschooling mom to four wonderful children in a suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio. With a Communications degree and Bible minor from Cedarville Un...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Luke 2:52. In this verse, we see the humanity of Jesus and the normality of child development. Your Turn to Play:               Do some dramatic play/pretend play with Jesus as a little boy. You can do it, mama! Verses from the episode: Luke 2:51-52 Luke 2:40 1 Samuel 2:26 Prove...

Episode Summary: In today’s episode, I compare and contrast reading picture books with your kiddos and reading Bible stories with them. Both have great benefits, but let’s find out what they are. Your Turn to Play: Read a Bible Story with the same enthusiasm as a picture book. Verses from the episode: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Links from the episode: PDF of Bible Stories vs Picture Books Book a Coaching S...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Ecclesiastes 3:11 and freeing ourselves from the expectation to be able to answer all of our kids' questions. God has created us with limited capacities to understand him and his plan. We can embrace that and instead create an environment of curiosity and questions while knowing we can trust God to have infinite wisdom and understanding. Your Turn...

Episode Summary: Let me introduce you to my dear friend, Taylor Irby. In our brief conversation, we talked about adoption, creating a family culture, setting up your young kids to talk to you when they are teens, and of course, PLAY. Taylor’s Bio: Taylor Irby is a certified life and family coach through Connected Families and Coaching Mission International. Through her years of coaching, Taylor ha...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Matthew 18:15. The Holy Spirit was really showing me what God’s plan for redemptive discipline looks like through this verse. This kind of discipline leaves behind shame and justice-seeking, for humility and service. Your Turn to Play: Before disciplining your child, pray for it to be done in humility and service. Then, play together to celebrate...

Episode Summary: In today’s episode, we look at God’s intention and purposeful design in child development and the 6 stages of play. Did you know that it isn’t age-appropriate for a 2-year-old to take turns? Your Turn to Play: Be a student of your child. What stage are they in? Can you marvel at God for his logic and order in their development? Verses from the episode: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Genesis 1:...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at John 10:10 through the lens of parenting. How often during discipline or my own agenda do I reflect the thief more than Christ in my parenting? Your Turn to Play: Exuberantly help your kids experience abundance this week. You can do it, mama! Verses from the episode: John 10:10 Links: Free Logos Bible Study Tools Redeemed for Motherhood Journal Ch...

Episode Summary: In this episode, I answer the question I get asked most often: “What age can I start faith conversations/discipling my kids?” Today! Whatever age your child is, start today! I also introduce my new mini-course, Playfully Faithful Questions, designed to help you engage your kids in more meaningful conversations about God, faith, and Bible stories. Your Turn to Play: Ask your kids w...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Exodus 33:14.  It’s a short and sweet reassurance that God is with you. Your Turn to Play: Rest in God today! You can do it, mama! Verses from the episode: Exodus 33:14 Links: Redeemed for Motherhood Journal Christian Motherhood with Purpose and Play Facebook Group Playfully Faithful Parenting Podcast is a ministry of CreatedtoPlay.com. For m...

Episode Summary: In today’s episode, I chat with my ministry friend, Dr. Heather Ingersoll. She has so much experience with ministry with children and their spiritual formation. Heather shares some beautiful and profound thoughts on children’s faith, discipleship, and parenting, as well as Godly Play. I hope that you will find this interview as impactful as I did. Heather’s Bio: Heather Ingersoll...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Genesis 33:11. This is not your normal parenting verse, but in it, I see the importance of apologizing and forgiving out of the graciousness of God and the importance of brotherhood/sisterhood. Your Turn: Teach your kids to apologize out of the graciousness of God You can do it, mama! Verses from the episode: Genesis 33:11 Links: Redeemed for Moth...

Episode Summary: This episode contains the last of the 4 Connected Families Messages: You are Responsible for your actions. We will talk about how some common disciplinary responses distract our kids from owning their problems, instead of allowing us to come alongside them to help them solve the problems themselves. Verses from the episode: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Romans 2:4 Galatians 6:1 Links from the...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Matthew 19:13-15. In this popular story of Jesus blessing kids, we look at 1 Do for mama’s and 1 Don’t  Do. Also, we talked about how we have to bring our kids to Jesus if we want to SEE him bless them. Your Turn to Play: Be Interruptible! You can do it, mama! Verses from the episode: Matthew 19:!3-15 Links: Bible Conference Redeemed for Moth...

  Episode Summary: In this episode, I interview Hannah Pierrou of the Tree House Storyteller. Hannah recently wrote and illustrated a beautiful children’s book that I am excited to share with you. Hannah’s Bio: Hannah is a long-time lifestyle photographer, designer, and artist at Hannah Pierrou Photography, LLC.  Farm to Film is her debut book as an author & illustrator. Hannah's lov...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Romans 10:17. There are two main points from today’s Scripture. 1) Hearing involves positively responding to what the speaker is saying. 2) Faith requires hearing the message of Jesus, not just the law. We are to point our kids to a relationship with Jesus, not the law. You can do it, mama! Verses from the episode: Romans 10:17 John 10:10 Colossia...

Episode Summary: Sometimes liking our kids can make a bigger impact than loving them. In this episode, I take a faith-based look at a quote from The Connected Child , “Research shows that children mimic people they perceive as strong and who like them.” Your Turn: 1) Reflect or journal on why Jesus likes you. 2) Write down 3-5 reasons you like each of your children. 3) Make a secret handshake with...

Episode Summary: This Theology Thursday we look at Colossians 1:28-29. These verses teach us to speak to our kids' hearts and minds in order to help them grow their relationship with Jesus to maturity. And, reminds us that our energy comes from God. You can do it, mama! Verses from the episode: Colossians 1:28-29 Colossians 4:12 Playfully Faithful Parenting Podcast is a ministry of CreatedtoPlay.c...