All the Marbles Day 17

This is middle on the day she was born, and the day she graduated from high school. Although “all my marbles” have been invested while she was under my roof, I am honored that Lee, my husband, and I still get to pour into her and her two sisters!

Families look different. We have Lee, me and three girls. Lee is a critical part of our discipling—it’s not “mom's job to talk about Jesus,” it’s our job to partner together and be on the same journey of discipling our children.

What if there is no mom in the family? What if there is no dad in the family? What if it is a family member raising the kids? Here’s where being part of a church comes in!

Partner with someone at Church in this disciple journey! I am NOT saying hand over the reigns; I’m saying partner together in this journey. Pray with your children, that God will show you who that person is at Church, who loves your kids as much as you do, and ask them to journey with you!! Even it is just for a season. Together walk, talk, and share moments of discipling!

If you are reading this and you don’t have kids—find that person/family to partner with!

Start ministering together as a church family! We often think of ministering to other adults, which is awesome, BUT what about bearing the burdens of that child, who has taken over your dining room table with books and computers and science projects? What about ministering to the most important person (besides Jesus) in your life?

(1) Discuss as a family who should be a part of your discipling process from your church. Call that person TODAY and ask them to pray about joining your family as you disciple together. DON’T make this complicated!! Partnerships are structured yet flexible; it’s a check-in, accountability, fellow disciple, not a box to be checked or a job to be done. If you don’t have a church, pray that God will show you which church family He wants you to be a part of AND get going. (Hard today with ”shelter in place, ” but I guarantee if you reach out to any local church today, they will be honored to share about their church family and how you can get involved.)

(2) Read what Paul wrote in his letter to the Galatians in Gal 6:12. Discuss what worries and burdens you each are carrying? Engage in your child’s emotions, this is a scary time, and they have to have an outlet, and as their “disciple-maker” you are it! Be honest about your fears too!

(3) Discuss the opportunities you have to love each other through our worries, fears, and burdens. I have shared in “Equipping Tomorrow” Facebook page an example from my friend Lauren about how she and her son worked through the “burdens” of their ”teaching at home” day—its a great read!

If you are interested in a simple “journey guide” to discipling your children, sign up atwww.allthemarbles-365-18.com, and this daily “All the Marbles” will come straight to your inbox. Also, Days 1-16 are posted there.

I am praying for you and your family, and this journey together!