Welcome to Little Shoots Deep Roots, the podcast that equips busy parents to gently nurture faith in their families one simple habit at a time! In this episode, host Christie Thomas sits down with Elizabeth Santelman, author and podcaster, to explore practical, approachable spiritual disciplines for every season of family life.

Feeling overwhelmed by perfectionism or "falling behind" in faith routines? Elizabeth Santelman shares her real-life strategies for remembering God's presence (even during the busiest or most exhausted days) and reveals why celebration is the most underrated (and joy-filled!) spiritual discipline of all.

Whether you're a mom, dad, or caregiver, you’ll discover how little habits can create deep spiritual grooves in your family’s heart, no matter how hectic life gets.

✨ In this episode:

• How to tend the soil of your own heart without aiming for faith perfection

• Tiny practices for busy parents that fuel spiritual growth

• Why “remembering” (not striving) is the real purpose of spiritual disciplines

• The forgotten discipline that brings energy, connection, and delight to family faith

• A peek inside "Gently Tended," Elizabeth Santelman’s new Bible study crafted for women (and adaptable for teens)

• Making habits work for you: why flexibility and grace are key

EPISODE PAGE (including transcript)

📚 FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES:

1. "Gently Tended" by Elizabeth Santelman – Preorder + free bonuses

2. Start Little Guide: 5 simple habits for family faith

3. Book: "Little Habits, Big Faith" by Christie Thomas:

Join us bi-monthly for gentle encouragement, creative ideas, and real talk on growing lasting faith...one little shoot at a time!

Monica Tanner draws from her own journey, as a child of divorce and now a mother of four, shares why intentionality in marriage matters, especially in the busy seasons of raising kids.

Learn practical and doable habits, like the 3% rule for staying connected, reigniting curiosity for your partner, and navigating through "roommate syndrome."

🔗 Episode Webpage (with written summary)

📚 FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES:

1. 🖥️ ⁠⁠Secrets of Happily Ever After (Monica's Podcast)⁠⁠
2. 📚 Book: ⁠⁠Bad Marriage Advice⁠⁠
3. 📱Instagram & Facebook: @monitalksmarriage

Summary:

• Why a strong marriage impacts parenting and sets the relational blueprint for children (02:18).

• The 3% rule for connection (07:34).

• How intentional curiousity and asking meaningful questions can reignite connection and spark, even after years together (14:07).

• The importance of modeling emotional vulnerability, empathy, and accountability (12:10).

• Why it's not too late to invest in your marriage (24:29).

  
  

  #christianity #marriageadvice #christianparenting

This episode is for every mom who’s ever wondered if her daily sacrifices matter. Whether you’re deep in the trenches of parenting littles, guiding teens, or simply trying to hold it all together, Shalene Roberts’s story and wisdom will encourage you to:

- Recognize and honor the challenges of feeling unseen and unappreciated

- Exchange external validation for seeing yourself through God’s eyes

- Find practical ways to connect with God even in busy, chaotic days- Shift your mindset and see the sacred value in your everyday tasks

- Use small discipleship moments with your kids to nurture your own faith

- Embrace the slow, sometimes hidden, fruit of mothering as Kingdom work

Connect with Shalene Roberts:

🖥️ ⁠Website & resources⁠

📚 Book: ⁠When Mothering Is Hard and No One Sees⁠

📱Instagram & Facebook: @shalenerobertsblog

Shalene Roberts shares from her journey as a former magazine editor, now raising five children in Texas, and what it looked like to give up worldly validation...but then discover how God sees and values the hidden work of mothering. Hear how a viral blog post, a transformative encounter at the kitchen sink, and lessons from the life of Susanna Wesley all shaped her approach to faith and family.

Episode Highlights:

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction

00:39 – Shalene Roberts’ Family Story

02:02 – The Loneliness and Challenge of Feeling Unseen

03:32 – Breaking Down: When You Can’t Do It All

04:46 – Meeting God in Our Need: Hagar and El Roi

06:04 – You’re Not Alone: The Power of Shared Struggle

09:00 – God’s Grace for Every Season10:01 – The Ongoing Journey to Feeling Seen

12:12 – Why Motherhood’s Fruit Isn’t Always Immediate

13:19 – Emotions, Truth, and Renewing Your Mind

14:25 – A Story of Surrender: Praying for Your Kids

16:26 – Habits & Disciplines for Staying Connected to God

17:27 – Praying in Chaos: The Susanna Wesley “Apron” Method

19:20 – Making Ordinary Discipleship Sacred

20:01 – Drawing Near to God with Your Kids

21:01 – Seeing God’s Kingdom in Ordinary Days

22:27 – Encountering the Sacred at the Kitchen Sink

23:54 – You Are Doing Kingdom Work: A Mindset Shift

#unseenmotherhood #motheringishard #sacredordinary #faithfulparenting #momlife #familydiscipleship #shaleneroberts #christythomas #littleshootsdeeproots #christianparenting #spiritualformation #kingdommotherhood

Dragons & Giants in the Bible | Faith, Adventure & Biblical Truth for Christian Families (with Laurie Christine)

Why does the Bible mention dragons and giants—and what do these legendary creatures have to do with the gospel and courageous faith?

In this epic episode of Little Shoots, Deep Roots, Christie Thomas welcomes special guest Laurie Christine—mom of four boys, creator of the Dragon Slayer Bible series, and host of the Sword and Story podcast—to unravel the mysteries behind dragons and giants in Scripture. Discover how these symbols point to deep truths about God, evil, and spiritual battles our families face today.

From Genesis to Revelation, this conversation explores why kids are captivated by heroic stories, how dragons and giants appear throughout ancient cultures, and how the Bible uses these creatures to highlight God’s ultimate power and the heart of the gospel.

You’ll discover:
• Where dragons and giants really show up in the Bible
• What ancient myths got wrong—and how the biblical story is different
• The link between dragons, the serpent in Eden, and spiritual warfare
• How heroic stories can ignite your kids’ curiosity about Scripture
• Simple ways to foster biblical courage, imagination, and faith in your family
• Why Laurie Christine wrote adventure-based biblical fiction for boys (and girls!)
• Practical tips for parents using fiction to spark gospel-centered conversations

Whether you’re a Christian parent, homeschooler, grandparent, or kids’ ministry leader, this episode will equip you with ideas for helping children see the wonders, battles, and beauty of God’s story in the Bible.

Big faith often grows from small wonders—curious questions about giants, brave knights, and a God who conquers every dragon. Nourish your child’s imagination and root them deeply in biblical truth.

🔗 ⁠EPISODE PAGE (with book links and notes)⁠

📖 RESOURCES MENTIONED:

1. Dragon Slayer Bible series: https://dragonslayerbible.com

2. Sword and Story Podcast: https://lauriechristine.com/swordandstory

3. Companion Devotionals & Family Resources: Linked on episode page

00:00 Welcome & Introduction
00:14 Meet Laurie Christine
01:26 Why Dragons? Myth vs. Bible
04:26 Dragon Imagery in Ancient Cultures
05:22 Dragons at the Heart of the Gospel
08:26 Why Kids Love Dragons & Giants
09:33 Dragons in Fictional Bible Stories
12:13 Seth, Cherubim, and Adventure
14:22 Giants, Goliath, and the Nephilites
18:35 Shem & the World Before the Flood
22:56 Which Parts Are Fact or Fiction?
24:08 Devotionals for Going Deeper
25:52 Inspiring Courage & Spiritual Warfare

Subscribe for more Christian parenting inspiration and practical faith-building tools!

#christianparenting #biblicalfiction #raisingboys #familydiscipleship #spiritualwarfare #christianfamily #biblestories #kidsfaith #adventurebooks #faithfilledkids #giantsinthebible #dragonsinthebible #homeschoolmom #bibleforkids #christianimagination

Becky Beresford shares her experiences as a mom of three boys (one on the autism spectrum) and offeres practical wisdom from her book, She Believed He Could, So She Did. Whether you're a parent, church leader, or someone supporting families, here are three key takeaways:

✨ You don't have to be "enough" for your family.

✨ Comparison is a joy-killer.

✨ Small moments matter—even when you pivot.

If you're looking for encouragement or practical insight into Christ-centered empowerment and special needs faith formation, this is an episode worth sharing!

Thanks for listening to Season 1! Here's what's up for Season 2.

📚 FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES:

1) ⁠Start Little Guide: 5 simple habits to try today⁠

2) Book: "⁠Little Habits, Big Faith⁠" by Christie Thomas

How do we help our kids grow generous hearts in a culture that says to hold tight to what you have?

As parents, we want our children to invest in what truly matters: sharing their time, talents, and treasures with others. But it isn’t always easy! From squabbles over toys to big lessons about money, stewardship starts with small conversations and habits in everyday life.

Discover practical ways you can plant seeds of generosity and gratitude in your family, celebrate the flourishing moments, and model giving together. Join us as we explore how intentional habits can cultivate deep, lasting faith and kindness.

🔗 EPISODE PAGE (including summary article)

📚 FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES:

1. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Raising Generous Hearts: a practical, scripture-rich PDF for starting generosity and stewardship conversations in your home.
2. My Book: ⁠⁠Little Habits, Big Faith by Christie Thomas⁠⁠

Giving isn’t just about money; it’s a practice, like prayer or reading the Bible. It’s best nurtured together, as a family habit.

In this episode, discover how you can move your family beyond sporadic giving to a sustainable, joy-filled habit that transforms hearts and blesses others.

You'll walk away with creative ideas for making compassion tangible, easy rhythms for giving time, talents, and treasure, and the confidence to help your kids grow roots of empathy that last a lifetime.

✨ In this episode:

• How to spark contagious generosity in your home

• Simple, kid-friendly giving habits (and how to keep them going!)

• Seasonal and regular ways to serve—at home, church, and beyond

• Making generosity joyful, not obligatory

• Practical tools for weaving giving into your family’s faith traditions

⁠EPISODE PAGE (including transcript)⁠

📚 FOLLOW-UP RESOURCES:

1. FREE: The Start Little Guide

2. MY BOOK: ⁠Little Habits, Big Faith by Christie Thomas⁠

3. BOOK RECOMMENDATION: The Sparkle Box by Jill Hardie

Join us as we embrace practical, grace-filled habits and watch faith, peace, and joy take root in our families!