Recipe for a Happy Home, Part 3

Utensils and equipment: The Word of God (DAILY & TOGETHER) and prayer

 When taking a French cooking lesson with my girls, we were amazed at what using the right equipment can result in.  It's all in the "tools" of the trade!  Well, in the same way, if the Lord doesn't build our house, we labour in vain.  We need to know that the Word of God has all we need for this life and godliness.  The Word is a light and lamp (Prov 6.23); it cleanses us, keeps us from sin, gives us hope and comfort, quickens us in the way of righteousness, gives us understanding (Ps 119); it makes us wise unto salvation and is profitable (2 Tim 3.15-16); it stands forever (Is 40.8); will judge us (John 12.28); is the Word of truth (Eph 1.16; John 17.16-7; 1 Pet 1.23; 2 Cor 6.7; Col 1.15; 2 Tim 2.15; James 1.18); the Word of life (1 John 1.1); the Word of power upholding all things (Heb 1.3); the law of liberty (James 1.25); is not bound (2 Tim 2.9); it is committed to us as the Word of reconciliation (2 Cor 5.19); it is our offensive weapon against the enemy (Eph 6.17); it endures forever (1 Pet 1.25; Matt 24.35; Mark 13.31 and Luke 21.33); it works effectually in you (1 Thess 2.13); it is our healing and deliverance (Ps 107.20; Matt 8.16); the Word made flesh is Jesus Himself (John 1.14), and it will never return void (Is 45.23; 55.11);  

Psalms 127:1 - Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:

Job 23:12 …I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Pour out into other vessels in order to “make something”! 

Your batter does NO GOOD sitting in the bowl! -- it needs to be poured out into other vessels.  Train your children continually to "pour out" into the lives of others.  Look for opportunities continually -- remember that all you have is what you give away.  Teach to give out of your lack and not just from your abundance.  Teach your children to be COMFORTABLE with being UNCOMFORTABLE – must cost you something to give!!!!  (2 Sam 24.24)  Teach them to communicate and encourage the handicapped and the hurting.  Even just a sentence can help them learn to encourage people.

Heat up the oven!

Just as when you cook you need to heat things up, have EXCITEMENT & FUN permeate your home.

Colossians 3:16 Let the Word of Christ—the Message - have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God!

Make sure your home is FILLED TO THE BRIM with fun, excitement, zest for life and laughter.  It should be because when you love what is right and shun what is evil, you WILL have so much JOY:  (Hebrews 1.9) - You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong.  That is why God, your God, anointed you, rather than your companions, with the oil of joy.  

End result:  life of purpose

Let your family, your home, and each person in it reflect and live a life of purpose.  As you see all the little tiny things you did take root and grow and bear fruit, you can know that you were not deceived, and you truly will reap all you have sown.  

Galatians 6.7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked:  for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your amoral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.

2 Corinthians 9:8:  And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need, be self sufficient (possession enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation).

Philippians 1:9-10:  And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and mere comprehensive discernment], So that you may surely learn to sense what is of real value [recognizing the highest and the best and distinguishing the moral differences], and that you may be untainted and pure and unerring and blameless [so that with hearts sincere and certain and unsullied, you may approach the day of Christ [not stumbling nor causing others to stumble]. 

Eph 3.20:  Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams], To HIM be glory…!

Isaiah 8:18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

Isaiah 59:19:  When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall LIFT UP a standard against him!  62:10b …gather out the stones; lift UP a standard for the people!

Children Learn What They Live (1969)

BY DOROTHY LAW NOLTE

If a child lives with criticism,


He learns to condemn.


If a child lives with hostility,


He learns to fight.


If a child lives with ridicule,


He learns to be shy.


If a child lives with shame, 


He learns to feel guilty.


If a child lives with tolerance, 


He learns to be patient.


If a child lives with encouragement, 


He learns confidence.


If a child lives with praise, 


He learns to appreciate.


If a child lives with fairness, 


He learns justice.


If a child lives with security,


He learns to have faith.


If a child lives with approval, 


He learns to like himself.


If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, 


He learns to find love in the world.