All the Marbles Day 24

These are pictures of Little. The day she was born, and the day she graduated from high school. For 18 years, Lee and I had the privilege of walking with her on her faith journey (discipling her), while she was under our roof.

Today she is back under our roof learning to do online school, and we still get to walk and talk with her about her faith journey, bonus time!

There are still so many amazing things we are learning, together, about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus!

Did we invest “all the marbles” (365 days x 18 yrs = 6,750) in Little wisely? Nope. We had seasons, highs, and lows. Do I wish I had help to start those daily walks and talks? Yes!

That’s what this “blog” and the last 23 days and the next _________ (as long as the Lord is willing) are all about. A tool to help my children, and maybe you—walk and talk along your discipleship journey. Not a program to follow but a journey to guide!

The source for this journey writing is the Spirit (through prayer) and the Bible. I have read 1,000s of great books on discipling throughout the last 15 years serving as Children’s Director/Pastor in various churches, and in getting my Masters in Christian Education, things I have learned from these Christian authors/writers are also part of this ”All the Marbles” journey.

Are you bold enough to join in? Even if it’s just for a season? If you don’t have children at home, how about with your grandkids or your neighbor's kids? What will it take to encourage you to invest and equip the next generation in the teachings of Jesus? Join the journey! Invest “all the marbles!”

“All the Marbles” post from Days 1-22 lay a foundation for the discipling, and Day 23 began our journey in “What is the Bible?”

(1) What does a baby need to grow? Did you know that Peter, one of Jesus's apostles, compared our learning to a baby’s craving for milk? Read 1 Peter 2:2-3.

(Teaching moment—research the difference between disciples and apostles)

(2) Pray as a family that God will give you each a passionate love for His Word.

(3) Discuss as a family how you would answer the question, “What is the Bible?” The strongest statement about the Bible is that it is the “Word of God.” Dwell on that for the day—God, the creator of everything, all-powerful. All-knowing made sure His whole story, from creation to return, was documented for us!

(4) If it is the “Word of God,” how should we respond? Is it just being familiar with it, ok? Should it help shape who we are? Should it guide us? Should it be like milk and help us grow?

Your kids are watching you! How do you respond to reading, studying, dwelling on God’s Word? Or are you just getting feed through devotionals* and other people’s writings about God’s Word, without going to the source? Our children often do what they see.

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

*there are a lot of great devotionals out there but don’t let someone else’s reading of the Word replace your study of it!