All the Marbles Day 40

I have been struggling this past week. At various points in life’s journey, my expectations and experiences haven’t lined up, and I have been left swimming against the current. When surrender and submission collide with my self-centeredness, I scream out, get angry, depressed, and long for a way out. It is hard to surrender, to submit, to not define good and evil on my own, and to always trust God.

It is precisely in these moments that reading God’s Story (the narratives, eyewitness accounts, letters, Hebrew Scriptures—the Bible) in light of God's overall redemptive plan that I am reminded that in loving Him and loving others I can rekindle the joy of being His child. So, today I recommit and restart, knowing it is by grace, through faith in Christ, I am saved and can face all that lies ahead! Will my self-centeredness ever come back? Yep, but I know one day, all will be restored. It is in that hope and great expectation that I pick myself up and start again!

Today, as a family, write a note thanking someone who might need an extra word of love. A handwritten note, with an envelope and a stamp, this is a great time to teach your children how to address and stamp an envelope! Remind them as we love others, we are loving God. If your child can't write yet, have them draw a picture. It’s hard to be all about yourself when you are loving others, humbly, sacrificially, with no ulterior motives.

If you are interested in a simple “journey guide” to use in discipling your children, sign up for “All the Marbles” daily email at the top of this blog post, and it will come straight to your inbox. Discipling is a journey, I encourage you to start with Day 1 of the Blog, but more importantly, I encourage you to start!

Today’s Disciple Moment

(1) As a family, we have been looking at Genesis 1-11. Read Genesis 3 together.

(2) In Genesis 1 and 2, why did God create humans? (to partner with Him and to find freedom in trusting His knowledge of good and evil.)

(3) God also gave them a choice, what was that choice? (Gen 2:15, Trust His knowledge OR define good and evil on their own.)

(4) This choice is symbolized by what? (the fruit on the tree—they can make a choice not to eat and trust God or to eat from the tree and cease the power to define good and evil on their own.)

(5) Read Genesis 3 together, what did they choose? (to eat the fruit and cease the power to define good and evil on their own.)

(6) Review: Continue to review Questions 1, 2, and 3 from day 37.

Even if you don’t use anything written here, use your Bible, and disciple your children!!! It is a great honor and our responsibility as parents!

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