Where's God's mummy?

As my eldest grows, I find us having more indepth conversations about God.

Five year olds have interesting theology.

Very. Concrete. Theology.

So, it should have come as no surprise when I was asked about baby Jesus God's mummy.

It makes perfect sense...
There's a Father... 
There's a baby...
Thus, in the mind of a child, there must be a mummy.

To be honest, the Trinity would be so much easier to explain if this were the case.

Instead, I had to remind Miss 5 that Jesus wasn't always a baby (which she still struggles with) and, being God as a human, He didn't need a mummy as we think of them...
But, here name was Mary.

The lesson? I don't think I'll be writing a kids theology book anytime soon.

Should you say how hard something is going to be?

What we're going to do next will be tough/tricky/hard...

Every so often you'll hear the above sentence in a church service or during a ministry activity.

But, I wonder, should you tell people that the next task will be difficult?
Does it help or hinder the chances of the activity running effectively?

Personally, I cringe every time I hear this phrase.

The reason?

The phrase hangs upon its conclusion...

If the person ends the phrase with "but I think you can do it..." Or "but I believe in you..." Then the entire complexion of the instructions change.

Now they are not near impossible obstacles, instead, now you are presented an opportunity.  

Far too many leaders in churches are too pesimistic when it comes to the capabilities of those within and outside of the churches walls, especially the young.

More often than not, people will raise to the task you set them. The worst thing you can do is send the message that you don't think the congregation will be able to rise to the challenge.

Giving God the out

Pray big prayers.
Pray bold prayers.
Pray for miracles.
Pray for healing.
Pray for God to restore.
Pray for growth.
Pray for dramatic movements of God.

Unless... 

God has something else in mind...
God has another plan...
God wants us to learn something...
God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours...

It's not uncommon, when praying - especially aloud for someone else - to give God the "out".

It's not unusual to leave the door publicly open for God to do something different, or even the exact opposite, for what we are praying for. 

My question is why...

Are we afraid of personally loosing face if God doesn't deliver? 
Are we afraid of showing that God is somehow being "unfaithful"? 
Are we afraid that others might think that God is uncaring, absent or ignoring our petitions?

I think these are important questions to ponder when we want to publicly give God the "out." 

Do we, in light of God's sovereignty, pray in the wrong order.

Should we put the "disclaimer" that God might not work in the ways we desire BEFORE we ask? 
Would this make a difference to the way we pray and the way our prayers are interpreted by others?