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

Aug 28 2024 214 ep. 18 mins 12

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

Are you a Christian mama who wants your kids to fall in love with Jesus? Me too, friend! I'm Joy Wendling: friend of Jesus, wife, seminary grad, and Children’s and Family Minister turned Stay-at-Home Mom to 5 girls. Join me as we explore our calling to introduce our kids to Jesus and watch as the Holy Spirit transforms their lives. We call this privilege Spiritual Parenting. Every day God wants to partner with us as he pursues a relationship with our kids. And, because research shows God created our kids to learn best through play, we might just have a little bit of fun while we are at it.

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3 Tips for Quiet Time with Kids at Home

Aug 28 2024 18 mins

Do you have a consistent habit of spending time with God? It can be so hard to do with kids at home. Yet, Deuteronomy 6:5-7 shows us that discipling our children starts with us loving God. It is from that love of God that our teaching, discipling, and nurturing the faith of our children flows. Otherwise, you will be trying to work for God instead of with him. This leads to burnou

Are you teaching facts or faith?

Aug 21 2024 8 mins

In this episode of Playfully Faithful Parenting, we dive into the important distinction between teaching kids Biblical facts and nurturing their faith. Through my experience as a mother, children's minister, and seminary graduate, I explore how simple questions, like the number of loaves and fishes, might build knowledge but not necessarily foster a deep, personal relationship

A Back to School Prayer for Christian Families

Aug 14 2024 8 mins

Are your kids going back to school? Here are a few prayers and verses to help with the transition. You’ve got the Holy Spirit! You can do it, mama! Links: (This may contain some affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.) Wanna to read instea

Must-Read Book Series for Playful Family Faith

Aug 07 2024 26 mins

If you are a Christian parent who wants to bring joy to your family's faith and model the abundant life, I think one book series is a must-read: The Chronicles of Narnia. There is so much richness and imagination that will help your family talk about and grow in faith. Let’s look at how we can use each book to wonder and connect with our children. You’ve got the Holy Spirit

Paris Olympics 2024 and Family Faith

Jul 31 2024 12 mins

Hey mamas, are you wondering how to use the Olympics as a meaningful learning moment for your family’s faith journey? I’ve got you covered! In this episode of Playfully Faithful Parenting, we dive into five practical ways we can take cues from Olympic athletes to grow our spiritual lives and those of our kids. From the importance of training and rest to the power of community a

Wondering "What Do I Do, God?"

Jul 22 2024 21 mins

Hey mamas, ever find yourself lost and seeking guidance as you navigate raising your kids for Jesus? I have too! In this episode of Playfully Faithful Parenting, we dive into Psalm 16 and uncover how turning to God and His Word can provide the wisdom, security, and joy we need in our challenging moments. Together, we'll explore where to go with our fears and questions, allowing

Responding to Children's Misbehavior with Kindness and Self-Control

Jul 15 2024 16 mins

Many Christian mothers struggle with their reactions to their children's misbehavior, often responding with anger, frustration, or harsh discipline. This inconsistency between their faith values and parenting practices can lead to guilt, damaged relationships, ineffective discipline, and impact their child's faith. The podcast addresses how moms can align their responses t

BONUS: Little Habits, Big Faith | New Christian Parenting Book by Christie Thomas

Jul 13 2024 16 mins

I recently read a statistic that said 92% of Christian parents believe they are responsible for nurturing their children’s faith, but only 33% feel prepared to do so. Christie Thomas’s new book, Little Habits, Big Faith is a great resource for growing in confidence in your ability to disciple your child. Learn more about this book and check out the links below to grab it from A

PFP 194 | Exploring Play as a Discipline Tool in Parenting | Is Play Rewarding Bad Behavior?

Jul 08 2024 13 mins

Welcome back to another episode of Playfully Faithful Parenting with your host, Joy Wendling. Today, we're diving into the often misunderstood role of play in discipline. Many parents perceive play as inappropriate during moments of misbehavior or power struggles. But what if there's a better way? Drawing insights from Lawrence Cohen's "Playful Parenting" and

PFP 193 Parent Coach's Parenting Fail | Walking through Connected Families Framework

Jul 01 2024 21 mins

In this heartwarming episode of "Playfully Faithful Parenting," host Joy Wendling opens up about a personal parenting fail that turned into a remarkable moment of growth and connection. Listen as Joy recounts a challenging day at the park that led to frustration and embarrassment but ultimately demonstrated the transformative power of playful and faith-filled parenting. G