9 min read ⭑

Christie Thomas is a big believer in tiny habits. As a children’s ministry leader and mother to three boys, she learned that it doesn’t take gigantic lesson plans and in-depth Bible studies to teach kids about God. It’s the small, daily stuff that matters most. That’s why she wrote her latest book, “Little Habits, Big Faith,” where she shares ideas and principles that any parent — no matter how busy — can apply to their families. Christian parents also love Christie’s numerous children’s books, short classes, blessing blankets and bite-sized Bible studies. In our interview today, she’s diving into the real-life lessons she’s learned about children’s faith formation and how the Holy Spirit inspires her work. Be entertained as you learn more about her current favorite spiritual (and nonspiritual) habits, books and podcasts.

QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT

There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?

Every Sunday afternoon, my husband and I pack the kids up and drive across town for a meal in my favorite place: my parent’s home. I walk in to the familiar smell of my mother’s perfume, see the same prickly cactus I avoided as a child and eat at the dining table I used to hide under when I was sad. This house has roots. Most happy, like the music I used to play in the basement on the tape deck. Some sad, like the recently repainted bedroom that belonged to my long-deceased sister. My parents purchased the brand-new, dishwasher-less bungalow on a quiet street before either of us was born. The only memories this home holds are ours.

Supper is an eclectic combination of traditional Mennonite meat and carbs mixed with garden greens or whatever fun food my mom found on sale at the farmer’s market. My favorite is the chicken noodle soup, which is also the only Mennonite meal I’ve ever fully mastered. (There’s nothing quite like the slurp of a noodle you made from scratch, or the way homemade chicken broth feels in the belly.)

Among my parents, my husband, me and our three boys, conversation always flows freely — and a little silly at times. Sometimes, buns are thrown across the table, at which point my dad will share the story of his dad throwing a bun at him during a wedding meal. Other foods are strictly avoided, like roasted asparagus dipped in butter (which just means more for me, so I don’t mind). This is our weekly ritual. Coming home.

QUESTION #2: REVEAL

We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activity (or activities) do you love engaging in, which also help you find essential spiritual renewal?

Ever heard of barefoot in the kitchen?

Nah, that’s not me.

Me, I am barefoot on the sidewalk, eyes down, book in hand. I’ve always loved reading and walking, and the advent of the digital audiobook has made that venture far safer than it was when I was younger.

Over the past year, I’ve found renewal in the stories of Corrie ten Boom and Edith Cavell, historical fiction about words and libraries and dictionaries, nonfiction about history and pacifism and parenting, and some good old fantasy.

I listen while walking a glorious autumn lake trail during my children’s kayak class, while bundled in 10 layers of clothing when it’s -40 degrees outside and while watching my dog bound through waist-high summer grass.

My feet no longer appreciate going barefoot on the sidewalk, but the habit of reading and walking that began when I was a teenager has served me well for decades now. The stories in my head and the miles I walk bind together into a sweet harmony, helping me remember, ponder and make connections that don’t happen as readily when I’m reading with my eyes. All I need is a good pair of walking shoes and some earbuds.

QUESTION #3: CONFESS

Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite, and how do you hide it?

For decades, I felt like The Invisible Person. In sixth grade, my teacher decided that I would make an excellent spy because I was good at hiding. (Or maybe forgettable?) In ninth grade, I was voted “The Shyest Person” in my grade. The number of times a waitress has forgotten to take my order or I’ve been missed or ignored seems uncountable, and has, for good or for ill, become part of my identity.

In some ways, being invisible isn’t so bad. I’m a good mediator because I can see others, even if they can’t see me. But the little girl inside of me longs to be seen, to not feel the need to conform and disappear, to live big and wear bright colors and speak my mind. In many ways, writing has done this for me in a healthy way. It enables me to think through my opinions and share them. So thank you for reading my words, and for seeing at least a part of me.

QUESTION #4: FIRE UP

Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your current obsession? And why should it be ours?

I spent most of my professional life working part time as the children’s ministry director in my church. Alas, I discovered that discipling my own kids was completely different from writing a Sunday school lesson. Somehow, my three little boys seemed less attentive than an entire class full of preschoolers, and I didn’t have time or energy for a full Sunday school-style lesson each day. I was flummoxed as to how to disciple them well in a family context.

In the meantime, I was leading family faith sessions at church. Honestly, it was the blind leading the blind in the early years, especially since I taught my first family discipleship class before I even had kids of my own. But as I started hearing stories about how a tiny habit I taught to each consecutive group of toddler parents made a difference, a light bulb started shining dimly in my brain.

Then, I encountered some modern habit-formation books, and a light bulb started flashing inside my head. These books said it’s the little habits that are often the game-changers. And the more I investigated, the more I discovered the immense power of tiny habits in family discipleship.

I began to test out some theories on my membership community, and eventually, it turned into my new book, “Little Habits, Big Faith: How Simple Practices Help Your Family Grow in Jesus.” I hope that what was absolutely freeing for me will resonate with other confused, discouraged and overburdened parents as well.

QUESTION #5: BOOST

Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?

I think of the Spirit’s impact on my work in terms of water fountains and coffee makers.

The most obvious (and least common) is the water fountain, where you lean down to take a drink and get a spray of water that gives you a full face wash. Occasionally, I feel the Spirit move in my writing in such a way that I have a backlog of living water in my soul that must explode out in very specific language.

The second type of inspiration is when I know I have to get something done and, like a water fountain that barely flows, I have to work hard for every word, every metaphor, and every turn of phrase. It’s not as fun as the gushing flow of insight, but it’s there in the slow, steady faithfulness of the Spirit working in me.

The third, most common type of inspiration is more like a coffee percolator. In a percolator, heated water is forced up a vertical tube and dumped onto the coffee grounds. This is exactly how the Holy Spirit normally invigorates my writing. I’ll be working on something and think I have it perfect, but then a few weeks later, a conversation, sermon or Bible passage will dump fresh water over the mishmash of words and turn them into something more beautiful, clear or thought provoking than I expected.

QUESTION #6: inspire

Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied habits that open our hearts to the presence of God. So let us in. Which spiritual practice is working best for you right now?

I’ve always been a night owl. In fact, when our church advertised a 6:30 a.m. Ash Wednesday service this year, I turned to my son and laughed. Who gets up that early to go to church?

Turns out, I do. The night before Ash Wednesday, I was suddenly filled with the desire to get up at 5:30 a.m. and go to church. Our church hosts a weekly Wednesday morning prayer group, so after my first Wednesday wake-up, I continued to go. It continues to surprise me every week because I haven’t magically turned into a morning person, but the morning Bible study and prayer time is so rich I rearrange my life so I don’t miss it.

Since I’m more of a “chat with God throughout the day” kind of gal, spending dedicated time in intercessory prayer is a new practice for me, but doing it with others (and a cup of coffee) has been incredibly life giving.

QUESTION #7: FOCUS

Looking backward, considering the full sweep of your unique faith journey and all you encountered along the way, what top three resources stand out to you? What changed the game and changed your heart? What radically altered your life? What changed your reality?

Stories have had the biggest influence on my faith journey. As a child, I listened to “Adventures in Odyssey” on repeat. As a teen, novels by Brock and Bodie Thoenie and Janette Oak set the background of my life and helped me see how faith could impact a life.

As an adult, I love immersing myself in a biblical fiction novel because I still learn best through stories. My brain is fully wired for story, and I often learn better through a story than through a sermon, podcast or lecture. When I’m reading or listening, my brain starts making connections to my own life and the lives of those around me, and stories often move me to prayer and worship. 

Writers like Connilyn Cossette, Ted Dekker and Lynn Austin have formed my understanding of the Bible and faith more than any seminary class or textbook. (However, I do appreciate that they do the seminary classes and read the history books on my behalf before writing their stories.)

We all have things we cling to to survive (or even thrive) in tough times — times like these! Name one resource you’re savoring and/or finding indispensable in this current season, and tell us what it’s doing for you.

Over the past few years, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to the study of history, which makes sense since stories are so dear to me. Right now, the thing that is making all my spiritual and emotional centers light up with joy is a podcast called “The History of Christianity.” The host, Bertie Pearson, is the rector of a large church in Texas and teaches church history at a seminary.

Church history seems like an odd thing to savor, but the stories, creeds and struggles of the early church are touching my spirit in surprising ways. They’re giving me a sense of rootedness I’ve (apparently) deeply missed.

QUESTION #8: dream

God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?

Fourteen years ago, God gave me the idea to create simple, sustainable take-home pages for our preschool families. Over the years, these morphed into my first book, an interactive, play-based Bible storybook for preschoolers. When my son’s Christian school kindergarten teacher told me that he had remarkable biblical knowledge for a 5-year-old, I was shocked because all we’d done with him was these two-minute Bible studies. But two minutes a night adds up to a lot in a little boy’s heart.

I self-published that book, and it started me on the journey of authorship. But I always nursed the secret hope that a traditional publisher would one day see the value in these play-based, Bible-focused devotions. In September 2024, the new book will be released! It’s now called “My First Devotional,” and I’m delighted to see it fully illustrated and ready to help another generation of preschoolers know and love God.

A survey by the University of Scranton found that a shocking 92% of adults don’t reach their goals. Why is that? Could it be that most goals seem too big to accomplish at the outset? That the actions taken to pursue those goals are unsustainable?

In contrast, numerous studies point to the world of difference that small changes can make. For example, participants of one weight-loss study found it easier to make changes that initially seemed too difficult simply by forming small, sustainable habits.

What if small habits could impact more than just our physical health? What if we applied this idea, as Christie suggests, to how we raise our kids? Or how we spend time with God? Or how we love, give, serve and work?

Take a moment to think about the big changes you want to see in your life. What small habits could you implement to help you get there?

Christie Thomas is a mom and writer who has been involved in children’s ministry for most of her life, including working as director of children’s ministry for more than a decade. Christie is also a family discipleship coach to many parents who need equipping, support and encouragement. She deeply believes that every Christian parent can confidently nurture deep faith in their kids through little habits that add up over time. Her devotionals and children’s books help parents cultivate faith-filled moments. She lives with her husband and three boys in Alberta, Canada.

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