Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-07-20
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Topic For the Week beginning July "a

Topic For the Week Beginning July "a.
Comment by Rev. 5. II. Doyle.
ToPIo.-How to have happy home.-Job
xxx, 10; Deut Vi, 60.
Many blessings of life are not appre-
saated until they are lost. Then we
realize how much they meant to us,
This seems to be particularly true of a
happy home. The prodigal son did not
yealize the joys and comforts of his IA
Tiers house of peace and plenty until
IN strange land he was compelled to
do undesirable work for a strange man.
From this seventy ninth chapter of Job
we learn that the patriarch Job did not
fully realize the blessings of home until
they We're lost. Then, in the midst of
his Affections and adversities, he be-
moaned his lost estate.
"Oh," he says, that were as in the months
of old
As in the days when God watched over me,
When His lamp shined upon my head,
And by His light l walked through darkness;
As was in the ripeness Of my days,
When the secret of God was upon my tent
When the Almighty was yet with me.
And my children We're about me;
When my steps We're washed with butter.
And the rock poured me out rivers of oil!''
What keen sense of the appreciation
of blessings lost is expressed in these
words, Nothing is moro desirable in this
world than happy home. Let there be
pleasantness, peace, harmony and hap
piness III the home and the heaviest
outside burdens may be borne and trials
endured, but all manner of worldly and
business prosperity will not compensate
for a disagreeable unpleasant home
when strife and contention form the
principal part Of the daily bill of fare.
The reference in Deuteronomy en-
phasiZes the Importance of the word Of
God in the home and suggests some
necessary characteristics of a happy
home
l. A happy home must have God in
it Moses commands that the words of
the law must be kept in the hearts of
the people 1t was God s word, and if
we have Gods word in our hearts we
will have God in our homes Nothing is
sadder in this life than goddess home
"a home in which God is not lsved.
honored and obeyed
2. In a happy home God word must
be taught to the children. and thou
shalt teach them diligently to thy chill
6en- Thou shalt sharpen them unto
thy children" is nearer the exact mean
ing of the Hebrew; thou shalt sharpen
them teach them so they will stick in
them Gods word is to be taught in such
away that it shall not be forgotten And
how do this better than by committing
it to memory? It is deplorable fact
that children do not commit the word
as they used to or should do. Let it be
drilled into the childish mind and it is
never forgotten, and such child should
do its part to make the home happy,
and Gods word learned in childhood
often keeps children from doing that
which will make a home sad.
8. In happy home Gods word
should be talked about. Thou shalt
talk of them when thou slttest in thy
house. Oh, if there was only more
conversation in our homes about God
and Gods word. 1t would make many
a desert home to blossom as the rose.
We should not only talk more of God,
but more to God in them. All our homes
would be happier if III them We talked
more of God and more to God.
4. In a happy home Gods word
should be obeyed- 1t should be bound
upon our hands to direct them and be-
tween our eyes to direct our minds or
wills. Gods word should thus direct
our thoughts, words and actions, and if
it does our homes must be happy
Bible Readings Gen. vii, l. Elk. Xxx,
II; Ruth i, 1922; Prov. vi, 90, 21;
XIV, Is; xxx, II; Luke X, 3S-42; xiv,
1882; Eph. Vi, 10, Phil. ii, 5; Col
iii, 1925; I Tim V, 4; II Tim. i, 80
iii, 14-17; Jas. i, %.