Make Home a Bit of Heaven

We, living far down the passage of ages, have the privilege of studying the Old Testament in connection with the New. Our faith and courage should be strong as we see prophecies fulfilling. But how many there are who are unbelieving. How many there are who reveal selfishness and unkindness in their dealings with one another. How many professing Christians seem never to be satisfied unless they are engaged in strife. How many home circles are broken because the members receive and act upon Satan’s suggestions.

No unpleasant words are spoken in heaven. There no unkind thoughts are cherished. There envy, evil surmising, hatred, and strife find no place. Perfect harmony pervades the heavenly courts.

Well does Satan know what heaven is, and what the influence of the angels is. His work is to bring into every family the cruel elements of self-will, harshness, selfishness. Thus he seeks to destroy the happiness of the family. He knows that the spirit governing in the home will be brought into the church.

Let the father and mother always be guarded in their words and actions. The husband is to treat his wife, the mother of his children, with due respect, and the wife is to love and reverence her husband. How can she do this if he treats her like a servant, to be dictated to, ordered about, scolded, found fault with before the children? He is forcing her to dislike him and even to hate him.

May God help fathers and mothers to open the windows of the soul heavenward and let the sunshine of Christ into the homelife. Unless they do this, they will be surrounded by a mist and fog most injurious to spirituality.

Fathers and mothers, bring sweetness and brightness and hopefulness into the lives of your children. Kindness and love will work wonders. Never punish a child in anger. When you do this, you are acting like grown-up children, who have not left behind them the unreasonableness of childhood. Will you strive earnestly to be able to say, “When I became a man, I put away childish things”?

Be sure, before correcting your child, to talk with your heavenly Father. When your own heart is so softened by sympathy, talk with the erring one. If the matter can be adjusted without the use of the rod, so much the better.—Manuscript 71, May 29, 1902, “Words to Parents.”
The Upward Look p.163
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Prayer Requests
—-Asking for prayers please. I’ve had a brain injury since 2016. Julian
—-Please keep my parents in your prayers, they are 85 and both have heart and respiratory issues. Tamara
—-Urgent prayer for a Sis in Christ who’s kidneys are said to be shutting down. Prayer for her husband’s strength as well. Monika
—-Please pray for baby Titus he has a heart murmur and asthma. FS
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Dear Friends,
Over the years, we have lived many different places and met many different types of people. One particular woman that used to confuse my children seemed to believe that it was evil to laugh or even to smile. Since they were raised in a home that laughed and smiled a lot, they just could not understand her. The woman frowned at anyone who had a joyous look upon their face as if they were doing something wrong. The woman’s attitude caused most people to avoid her.
It is true that jesting, hilarity, silliness, and joking can cause us to be forgetful of God. Paul tell us, “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not
be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish
talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of
thanks.” Eph 5:4 It is true that jesting and joking can have a mean barb hidden within as Solomon speaks about, “As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?” Prov 26:18 Yet, this poor woman was confused between the joking and jesting Paul speaks
against and the joy and happiness that is an outward sign of a heart that is at peace with God.
Jesus was not gloomy like that woman we knew years ago. He he been, the children would have avoided Him like my children avoided that woman. When his disciples thought He was too important to bless the children, He said, “Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 19:14 See Him there, with children gathered about Him. What joy He felt as He opened to their understanding the things of God. How happy they were. Later, some of those very same children praised Him as He was in the temple after He cleansed it the second time. “And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” Matt 21:15, 16
We, too, can praise our Great Redeemer for all of His mercy and blessings He gives us each day. The Psalms are full of such praise and rejoicing to our Loving Creator. Moreover we are told that it brings joy to our Saviour when we are saved. More than we rejoice over His blessings, He rejoices over us. “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied.”“The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” Isa 53:11; Zeph 3:17 Think of it! He loves us more than we can imagine. It gives Him such joy to daily pour out His blessings upon us.
May we turn from the fleeting pleasures of this world and find our happiness and rejoicing in the blessings of the Lord is my prayer.
Rose