Recipe for a Happy Home, Part 1

Recipe for a Happy Home, Part 1

I was privileged to share this message with the Eastpointe MOPS group, and thought some of you may be interested in it.

1.   The RECIPE:  Know what you want the end result to be.

If you were at a party and tasted something you thought was distasteful, would you ask for the recipe?  NO!  However, if you tasted something "out of this world" you would ask for the recipe, so that you could duplicate the recipe in your own home for your own loved ones...  Sadly, many families see and realize the futility and unsuccessful results of many homes, yet without realizing it they follow the same "recipe" -- almost guaranteeing the same distasteful results!  We have to begin with the end in mind, so...

What defines a "happy home" to you?  One without problems?  Not realistic!  One where every one gets their own way?  Not possible!  One where you own a lot of things?  The Bible gives us a clear foresight on that in Luke 12.15:  Take heed, and beware of covetousness:  for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth"!  And we can surely see from the lives of Hollywood and public personalities that money does not buy happiness; usually it is quite the opposite and rather a deterrence and obstruction to happiness!

Proverbs 16.25 tells us There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death.

Isaiah 55.9 - Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.

So exactly WHAT is GOD's plan for our homes???

Deut 11.21 - That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.

So why aren't our home lives "as the days of heaven upon the earth"?  We aren't following the recipe the Lord GAVE us to achieve that end result!  Remember:

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Jesus] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  John 10:10

Other versions put it this way:  They will have everything they need, they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of, they may have and enjoy life and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

We are going to look at the recipe we need to follow to achieve this result.

For now, list some of the things you desire your homes to be, knowing that just as you can’t just sit on the couch and get up and expect a fully baked cake to be coming out of the oven,  it will take purpose, planning, work, focus and dedicated effort to the finished product!

Next blogger:  INGREDIENTS:  What you get out of it depends on what you put into it!

Challenge:  Make a list of what defines a "happy home" to you.  Make a list of what you desire your home to be!  Then commit to do what it takes to get you there!  You may have to GET some of the ingredients you don't already have.  You may have to do a lot of work, put in some ingredients not USUAL, plan, work, focus and dedicate yourself BUT the finished product will be worth it!