Unique Mums Podcast

In this episode, I welcome to the show Christian author and speaker Kelly Needham to talk about the privilege of spending time alone with God. 

We chat about what solitude means, Kelly’s journey in embracing time alone with God, and the main obstacles that keep us from engaging with God on our own. 

Kelly also shares some great tips for moms for developing the practice of solitude and how we can teach our children to develop the practice of solitude. 

In this month's episode, I chat to wife, mama, and author, Emily Darnell, about the concept of Abiding in Christ.

We cover the following questions: What does Abiding in Christ actually mean? What is the role of the Scripture and the Holy Spirit in helping us abide in Christ? How can we abide in Christ as busy mamas? How can we teach our children how to abide in Him?

Meet Emily:

Emily Darnell lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia with her husband and children, and loves to be outdoors as often as possible. She earned her Masters of Arts in Philosophical Theology, and worked in Student Affairs at a University for 10 years. She now homeschools her children, and is active in her local church's Women's Ministry.

Connect with Emily

In this week's episode, I'm sharing a conversation between myself and my husband Luís on how we celebrate the Sabbath as a family.

We talk about why we believe celebrating the Sabbath is for us today as Christians, God's life-giving invitation to rest, and what we've learnt in the process of keeping the Sabbath.

Listen in and let us know what you think. :)

In this episode, I talk about resting in freedom as we understand God's design for rest. I also explore why we can rest, and how we can rest as busy mamas.

In this episode, I share my heart on what it means to work in surrender.

Sometimes we’re restless and burdened because we haven’t surrendered our work to the Lord. At least not completely.  We’re working from a place of striving, people-pleasing and cultural conformity, instead of letting God lead us.

Jesus’ yoke is easy, and His burden is light. In taking it upon ourselves, we will learn to rest in His sovereignty, take stewardship of the loads He intends us to carry, and release the loads that are not ours to bear.

In today's episode, I chat with my friend and fellow writer, Leslie Moore, about waiting on God in seasons of transition and finding joy and rest in the present.

Meet Leslie!

Leslie might live in a sleepy southern town, but her stories are thrilling. Leslie writes historical romances spanning from the foundations of early England to the 1970s, bringing faith-filled stories with adventure, sword fights, betrayal, secrets, and how the power of love can mend all hurt. Although she's known as a writer, her most recognized title is Mom to Henry and Claire. When she's not researching 9th-century armor or how a longhouse was built, she's folding clothes, washing dishes, and wondering how to add in another plot line. You can find her writing about her first love, Jesus, on IG @lesliemoorewrites.   

Find out more about Leslie!

Website

In this episode, I talk about 10 ideas to make our homemaking simpler, which will help us slow down and embrace Jesus's life-giving rhythms.

For details on cleaning routines, check out

In this episode, I talk about following the way of Jesus in choosing a simple life with fewer things and less hustle. I also talk about some practial areas in which we can choose slow and simple instead of rushed and complex.

For the podcast notes, check out

In this episode, I talk about the importance of meeting with God in the secret place. This is not about a legalistic rule, but about relationship with the Father. It's in the secret place that we come to God as we are and He enables us to surrender all to Him.

Doubts, questions, or comments? Contact me!

In today's podcast episode, I'm sharing some ways we can go about sharing the Gospel with others - as a family.

Sharing the Gospel as a family is not simply a nice thing to do, but it's actually a step of obedience in fulfilling the Great Commission. (Matthew 28:16-20)

Yes, we can share the Gospel individually, but think how much more blessing we'll experience when we go out into the world and preach the Gospel as a united family team! Think how beautiful it'll be for our children to see us carry out the command of making disciples before their very eyes and then doing the same!

For the full show notes, check out the corresponding blog post

In this episode, I talk about the importance of us choosing to walk by the Spirit and live like Jesus lived - intentionally loving God and others.

This is completely counter-cultural in our world of hustle and hurry, but when we live in surrender to God's spirit, we can truly be salt and light.

Questions or comments? Contact me!

In this episode, I share 5 practical tips to help mums in seeking the secret place with God.

For the podcast notes, check out

In this episode, I share some practical tips for praying together as a family in terms of how to pray, when to pray and what to pray.

PRAY strategy

P for praise – start with praising God as a family. 

R for repent – repent together of specific sins that have arisen between you as a family. Also ask the Lord to show you if there’s anything else you need to repent of. 

A is for Ask – ask God for the things you feel you need as a family. 

Y is for  yield – at the end of the prayer yield to God’s will together.

For full notes on what to pray and when to pray, check out

This is episode four in the Missional Motherhood podcast series. Today we're looking at the number one thing Jesus Mamas need to share the Gospel with their kids.

What is it?

A close relationship with God!

So, mama, if you’ve been feeling spiritually distant from God, I want to challenge you to turn to God right now, wherever you are (pause this episode!) and 

• Confess to God how you’re feeling
• Turn to Him in prayer and confess any sin and ask for forgiveness
• Ask God to fill you with His Spirit and to draw you to all truth
• Ask God to give you a new passion for His name 
• Ask God to reveal Himself to you through Scripture. 

For the full content about why we need to do this and how we can pray for guidance in sharing the Gospel with our children, check out the episode. :)

For the full notes, check out the blog post

In this episode, I have a lovely conversation about missional motherhood with fellow author, mama, and Jesus follower, Jessie Mattis.

Jessie and I talk about the importance of authenticity, intentionality, and openness in our Gospel-centred conversations with our kids. We also talk about the importance of not just talking about God, but living for God in our everyday moments.

This conversation blessed me so much, so please check it out and share it with a mama friend if it blesses you too. :)

Meet Jessie!

Jessie Mattis is an award-winning author, a Jesus-loving wife, and a homeschooling mom. She loves using fiction to inspire others to hold tight to Jesus through good and bad times alike.

Jessie lives in Indiana with her husband, their three amazing kids, five chickens, and Guster the Labradoodle. Road trips, reading, and laughing with family and friends are some of her favorite things, and a mug of black coffee is never far from reach.

Connect with Jessie on Instagram, or on her Website ⁠

In this episode, I talk about five ways we can talk to our children about Jesus, i.e, certain disciplines and routines that will help open opportunities to talk about Jesus in a natural ways.

In the audio, I mention certain resources you can use in teaching our kids the Gospel:

- the Big Picture Story Bible (ages 2-6)

- the Jesus Storybook Bible (ages 2-6)

- the New International Version of the Bible

- the Veggietales show (ages 4-7)

- the BibleProject YouTube channel (from ages 6 or 7 upwards)

This episode is the first in the Missional Motherhood series. In this episode I talk about what missional motherhood means for Christian mamas, why it's important, and my experience as a Christian mama.

In this episode I mention the concept of being a disciple, or apprentice, of Jesus and how that translates into motherhood.

For the episode notes, check out the corresponding blog post

In today's episode, I go into detail about my recent experience in breaking up with social media and the five main reasons that led me to this decision. I also talk about three more positive reasons for letting go, and why I kept Pinterest and YouTube. Listen in to hear my heart.

The complete notes are in the corresponding blog post

In today's episode, I chat to my friend, Ericka Clay, about her experience with Social Media, how God uses Social Media redemptively, and how she puts up Social Media guardrails as a mother.

We also talk about some of the reasons behind social media compulsion, and how we need guidance from the Holy Spirit so we can discern if and how much we use SM platforms.

Meet Ericka!

Ericka Clay is a wife, mama, writer, and most importantly, a child of God. But before that, she was an atheist writer who had a chip on her shoulder. Jesus changed her and she now writes to show others that even through the darkest of struggles, God is always there to be our peace and comfort.

Check out Ericka's website

In this episode, I explore the concept of digital minimalism and what it means for us as Christian mamas. I also go into some detail about why our smartphones in particular cause us to hurry and some very practial ways we can reduce our digital devices (from minute 15).

Here's the episode outline:

- Why smartphones cause us to hurry (with research to back it up)

- Digital minimalism for the Jesus Mama

- 3 Ways to adopt digital minimalism as a lifestyle

In this episode, I chat about steps we can follow to help us create margin in our lives as Jesus mamas.

Creating breathing room and a slower life is not a luxury for those who don't work. It's the way of Jesus. Jesus worked hard. Yet, He also rested. When Jesus worked, He did so intentionally. Jesus gave people His time.

Let's then learn to live slower and more meaningful lives around God's will. Let's be unique Jesus mamas who work and rest according to God's rhythms, not other people's!

In this episode, I enjoy a lovely conversation with my friend, Bella Easterbrook from Over The Teacups . We chat about God's desire to help us as mamas to live intentionally and we discuss the basis for living slowly as Christians. We also chat about the practical aspects of being busy mamas and God's work in our lives in helping us slow down.

I love her reflections on spending time alone with God and how spending time with Him is what enables us as mamas to love our kids well. She says:

"I think if we're going to be mums that are gentle and patient and gracious and all those things we want to be for our kids, we can't do it in our own strength (...) we need to be connected to God."

Meet Bella!

Bella Easterbrook lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband Daniel and their three little boys - aged 4, 2 and 6 months. In her online ministry Over the Teacups, she encourages women to further know and love God's word. Bella is also passionate about finding Jesus in the pages of the Old Testament. 
You can connect with Bella at the Over the Teacups Blog, Instagram and Podcast.

Podcast

In today's episode, I chat with my friend Hailey Lindberg about how slow living relates to the Gospel, motherhood, and homemaking. This is a fantastic interview and I loved hearing Hailey's thoughts on living for Christ in our homes.

Hailey is a wife, mama and homemaker. She also hosts the Confessions of a Homemaker blog and podcast.

About slow living with regard to homemaking Hailey says:

"Slow living to me is about enjoying it (homemaking). You’re not trying to get to the next moment quickly. It’s a heart posture of contentment."

To find out more about Hailey check her out on

In this episode, I talk about the importance of Sabbath for slowing down as Christian mamas. I also explore how Sabbath is about stopping, resting, delighting, and worshipping and I give 7 guidelines in how you can practice Sabbath as a family.

Check out the full notes for this episode at

In this podcast episode, I share 5 practices we can adopt as mamas to help us live more like Jesus and choose intentionality over rush, and peace over stress.

Here are five practices:

1. Create time for margin

2. Say “no” to anything that is not a priority in this season in life

3. Don’t say "yes" to every new opportunity and purchase that comes your way

4. Reduce technology

5. Have a Sabbath rest

Bonus. Live more simply!

About me

What is slow living? Why is it beneficial?

In this episode, I give my take on slow living based on research and my own experience and I talk about the benefits of taking on a slower pace of life.

I also give some general ideas on how to implement slow living based on what works for me and my family.

If you'd like to grow in this area, check out my free guide "Finding Rest In The Midst Of Chaos”

In this week's episode, I share how trusting in God is key to helping us step out in faith.

Focus verse

In this podcast episode, I interview my friend and fellow author, Ericka Clay. We talk about her testimony of when she came to Christ (it's amazing!!), key moments in her life where God asked her to step out in faith, and what God has been teaching her as a wife and mother.

1. Ericka, you're a wife and mom, as well as a Christian author and content creator. Can you tell us about your testimony as a Christian. When did you come to know Jesus as your saviour?

2. Have there been key moments in your life where you felt God challenged you to step out in faith?

3. What key things has God been teaching you on your own faith journey as a wife and mother?

4. What tips would you give our listeners on how to step out in faith in what God's calling them to?

5. Tell us a bit about your books. Why do you create Christian content for others?

Ericka Clay is a published novelist and poet. As a former atheist turned believer, she seeks to write raw, real, relatable books that have a heart for Jesus. She's been awarded several times by Writer's Digest for her short fiction pieces and is working on her latest novel, A Bird Alone (due to be completed Summer 2023). She lives in Northwest Arkansas with her husband, daughter, one ornery chihuahua, and an insatiable need to push buttons, both figuratively and literally.

This devotion focuses on the story of Peter walking on water towards Jesus from Matthew 14.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. - Matthew 14:27-29

• What areas in your life do you feel Jesus speaking to you about leaving comfort, familiarity, and safety of circumstances? Have you taken this to your church leaders and/or prayed over these areas?
• Does having children cause you anxiety when it comes to abandoning your comfort zone and living by faith? How can you entrust your children to Jesus’ care?

In today's episode, I interview my Christian author friend, Vanessa Luu, about her Christian faith. We talk about key moments in her life that grew her faith, how faith is a walk, her tips in how we can grow in faith, and what God has been teaching her as she shares Christian content with others.

Here are the questions I asked Vanessa in today's podcast episode:

1. Vanessa you're a wife and mom of two, as well as a Christian author, content creator and podcast host. Can you tell us about your testimony as a Christian. When did you come to know Jesus as your saviour?

2. Have there been key moments in your life where you felt God really grew your faith? Has being a mother helped grow your faith in any way?

3. What tips would you give our listeners on how to grow in faith?

4. Tell us a bit about your books. Why do you create Christian content for others?

5. In writing my books and hosting a podcast, I really feel God has spoken into my life and helped me grow in faith. Can you relate? What key things has God been teaching you as you've been creating content for others?

Vanessa Luu is a wife, mother, and faith-based writer with a fire burning in her soul to reach the world for Jesus. She was born and raised in sunny California. She knows God uses her struggles to help shape who she is today. Her writing began when God taught her that perfection was not the goal. Instead, it's about submission, authenticity, and intimacy with God. She currently speaks on the You Don't Have to Be Perfect podcast and has just released her 3rd book, The Relevant Old Testament. Besides her books, she writes on her social media spaces and ibelieve.com.

In this episode, we're going to look at this amazing truth: when we ask according to God's will, He gives us what we ask for!

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15

• What things have you been bringing to God in prayer? Are they God’s will?
• If so, how can you keep trusting that God will say yes to your prayers even when there seems to be no answer?

How do we grow in faith? Well, one of the ways we grow in faith happens when we "form a tortoise". Find out more!

• How can you take up the shield of faith in your personal walk with God when you go through fiery trials?
• Who can you be accountable to in terms of sharing your struggles?
• What can you teach your children about the importance of the church in terms of support in the faith?

How do we grow in faith? We need a change of direction! In this episode, I share what that means, as well as a testimony of God's faithfulness.

“Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.” Luke 8:25

• Have there been any recent situations where you’ve put more faith in situations, experiences or what other people say, over what God says?
• How can you redirect your faith away from the world’s narrative and put faith in God’s word in your everyday moments?

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”  Colossians 2:6-7

• What recent situations do you feel God has been using to test and develop your faith muscles?
• What situations with your children do you find particularly difficult to manage? How can you trust more in God in the midst of those situations?

This is episode six in the Purposeful Work Devotional Series: Seek First His Kingdom Part 2. This devotion is about trusting in God and His goodness so much that we put His Kingdom first.

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.- Matthew 6:31-33

• When the world says you need to pursue self-care or a certain career in order to find true fulfilment, what truth can you apply to your mind?
• What are you currently doing which you know is part of God’s plan for you? Is God showing you to change the frequency, or the motivation behind it?

This is devotion number five in the Purposeful Work Devotional Series: Seek First His Kingdom Part 1. This devotion is about how God wants us to work purposefully in His Kingdom.

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. - Matthew 6:31-33

• Are there any ways you can grow in discipling your children in the stages of life they’re in at the moment?
• Have you been tempted to believe in the attractions of material wealth and worldly recognition over putting God’s Kingdom first?

This is devotion number four in the Purposeful Work Devotional Series. This week's devotion is about resting in God's strength to do His will.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13

• How can you pursue God’s Kingdom first in your life?
• Think about the times when you feel like giving up in pursuing God’s will. What do you focus on then? What can you focus on instead?

This is devotion number three in the Purposeful Work Devotional Series: Please Your Commanding Officer. This week's devotion is an encouragement to live for God's Kingdom and please Jesus. 

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer - 2 Timothy 2:4

• Are there situations you are currently entangled in that are not God’s will for your life?
• How can you disentangle yourself from these, and submit to God’s rule?
• What can you teach your children regarding living in submission to Christ’s rule? Can you share a testimony with them?

This is devotion number two in the Purposeful Work Devotional Series: Each One Should Carry Their Own Load. This devotion is about how we don't need to live under the burden of a responsibility that is not ours to bear.

Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load - Galatians 6:4-5

• What loads have you been carrying which you know are not your responsibility?
• Have you ever felt guilty for not being able to satisfy completely the needs of those around you? What truth brought forth in today’s devotion can help release you from that guilt?

This is devotion number one in the Purposeful Work Devotional Series: Let Us Not Grow Weary Of Doing Good. This week's devotion is an encouragement to persist in doing good work, because God promises we will reap fruit when we do.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. - Galatians 6:9

• How does today's verse help you persist in doing God's will?
• How can you encourage other Christian mothers in persisting in God's will for them, just like you too have been encouraged today?

This is devotion number six in the Silence Is Golden Devotional Series. In today's devotion, I focus on us being patient in our hope in God.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. - Psalm 37:7

• Do you sometimes feel frustrated when you feel other people are receiving blessings from God, and it seems like He is silent with you?
• What can you do in the moments in which God is asking you to wait patiently in Him?

This is devotion number five in the Silence Is Golden Devotional Series. In today's devotion, I share about how God strengthens us when we wait for Him.

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

• What anxieties have dragged you down recently?
• Are there situations in the lives of your children that have brought you stress and worry?
• How does knowing God is your Father help you grow in strength and peace?

This is devotion number four in the Silence Is Golden Devotional Series. In this devotion, I share about how we need to follow Jesus' example and find desolate places to be alone with our Father.

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35)

• When’s an ideal time of the day to spend focused time with God?
• What are the desolate places in your life? Where can you go to be away from distractions?