In this episode we talked with the host of HerTheology podcast, Cass Backhouse, about the value of parents, especially mums, reading and studying the Bible. We spent some time reflecting on why it's worth investing in our relationship with God by reading his word. But then we turned to the problem: it can be so hard! We talked through some questions like:

• How can I adjust my expectations for Bible reading to my season of life?
• Does it have to be a 'quiet' time?
• Does it have to look the same every time?
• What are the benefits of doing a Bible reading plan?
• What if reading the Bible feels dry or boring?
• What if I forget what I read?
• What are the benefits of reading in community?
• What if I don't understand what I read? Where can I find some resources to help?
• How will all this benefit my children?
• Is there anything wrong with just 'flicking to a page'?

This conversation with inspire and equip you to get stuck into the Bible, with the ultimate goal of knowing God better with both our hearts and our minds.

Links:
HerTheology podcast hosted by our guest, Cass Backhouse: exploring all of life in light of the Bible.
Knowing Faith podcast with Jen Wilkin.
Lift Their Eyes theology resources for families.

Recommended books:
Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin.
God's Big Picture by Vaughn Roberts.
Knowing God by JI Packer.
The Ology by Marty Machowski.

Mothers Union Sydney. Listen to all of the talks from the Mothers Union Seminar on Soundcloud.

Theme music: Soul's Getting Wet by Ali Maegraith. Produced by Ali Maegraith and Gerard Masters. Available on SoundCloud.

In this episode we got practical about prayer with our guest, author and mother-of-three, Wendy Lin. We spoke about how we experienced (or didn't experience) Christian prayer in our families of origin and how we decided to approach it with our own children. We discussed questions like:

• What is prayer? Why should we pray if God already knows everything?
• How can practise both routine and spontaneous prayer?
• How does God answer prayer?
• How can we do family prayer when we're not confident?
• What should we do if our spouse is not a keen Christian?
• How can busy parents find time to focus on prayer themselves?

This conversation is insightful, practical, encouraging and full of grace for families in every season of life!

Links:
Parenting in God's Family: Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Issues, which contains a chapter on 'Bible reading and prayer across the stages of family life' by our guest, Wendy Lin.

Wendy Lin's blog, with book reviews and devotional resources for families, Musings in Adelaide.

Mothers Union Sydney. Listen to all of the talks from the Mothers Union Seminar on Soundcloud.

Theme music: Soul's Getting Wet by Ali Maegraith. Produced by Ali Maegraith and Gerard Masters. Available on SoundCloud.

In this episode we chatted with father of four, Anthony Penn, about the issue of extracurricular activities (things like sport, music, dance and drama) that our kids might want to get involved in outside of school. We talked about the good things these activities can teach our children and the benefits of our whole family getting involved in the community organisations that run them. We talked about how our Christian values shape our approach to extracurricular activities and how we can make sure that church is not just squeezed in as an optional extra. We discussed how to navigate hard conversations, such as when we have to say no to an activity or when a child wants to quit. We finished by talking about how we can intentionally build genuine connections with the other families we cross paths with. This conversation with Anthony Penn was inspiring and insightful and will change how you see extracurricular activities!

Links:
Growing Faith: articles and resources to encourage and equip Christian parents and carers. Related articles:
'Calendar clash: Sport or church'
'How do I give my kids the edge?'
'Changing the "maybe" culture in our churches'

Mothers Union Sydney. Listen to all of the talks from the Mothers Union Seminar on Soundcloud.

Theme music: Soul's Getting Wet by Ali Maegraith. Produced by Ali Maegraith and Gerard Masters. Available on SoundCloud.