All the Marbles Day 20

“You got this!” “It’s ok, I love you,” “Make good choices,” “You are never alone,” “This season won’t last forever,” “Our hope is in Jesus, not others,” “Your self worth is not in your looks, money, friends, job, status, athletic abilities, smartness, who your parents are, BUT in being created in the image of God! He has bought you with a heavy price and loves you through all of the seasons and moments!”

Simple words of encouragement from someone we know, who has walked through our struggles, can lift us and put us back on the right track!

Are your words to your kids going to be grounded in truth and love today? Will you build them up or tear them down? DON’T hear me say you should helicopter them, or let them walk all over you, or not give them consequences for their actions, especially if their actions don’t show love to God and others (yelling at you or pouting about work is not showing love.) God created you, as their parents, for many reasons, including to encourage and equip them to be adults who live in a fallen world but have Jesus as their Savior and hope for all that is to come. What a great honor, opportunity, and responsibility! One day they will be the generation leading our world, are you grounding them in Truth? It’s never too late to start investing all the marbles! Regardless of their age, commit to being on the discipling journey with them, knowing the Spirit will equip and encourage you!

Invest all the marbles you have left while they are under your roof!

(1) To offer words of encouragement, we must be grounded in our faith. Sometimes we feel our “faith stories” are too simple, not dramatic enough, not enough “badness,” not as good as ”Bob’s,” etc.—wait a minute! Your story isn’t about you!! It’s about Jesus's love for you, what He has done for you! A life that has Jesus as the center is THE BEST STORY EVER!!! He has rescued the worst and the best from a life apart from Him!! Not by anything we say or do but by grace, through faith, in Him. Share your love for Him with your kids! Film it, write it, share it, but ALWAYS make sure He is the main character, and everyone remembers Him, not you.

(2) Read what Peter, an apostle, and disciple of Jesus, says about sharing our story in 1 Peter 3:13-16.

(3) Celebrate together! Pray together! And tell the story of Jesus’ love often—a life of rules is a miserable life, a life of love for God and others....priceless!

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

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