The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-23
CHRISTIAN ENpEAvoR.

Comment by Rev. 8. II. Doyle.
TOPIC. How to have happy home.-Jot
XXX, lao; Deut vi. 90
Many blessings Of life are not appre-
caAesd until they are lost. Then we
realize how much they meant to us
This seems to be particularly true of o
happy home. The prodigal son did NOT
realize 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 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 were lost. Then, in the midst Of
his Affections and adversities, he be-
moaned his lost estate.
"oh. he says. shat were as In the months
Of old,
AS in the days when God watched over me.
When bis lamp shined upon my head,
And by His light walked through darkness;
AS was In the rtpeness Of my days,
When the secret Of God was upon my tent,
When the Almighty was yet with me.
And my children were about me;
When my steps were washed with butter.
And the rock poured me out rivers Of oili''
What keen sense Of the appreciation
OF blessings lost is expressed in these
words Nothing Is more desirable in this
world than happy home Let there be
pleasantness. peace, harmony and hap
piness in 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 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.
!. 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 Gods 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 loved,
honored and obeyed.
2. In happy home Gods word must |
be taught to the children. "And thou
shalt teach them diligently to thy chill |
dren. " 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 |
0 way that it shall not be forgotten. And |
how do this better than by committing |
it to memory? 1t is a 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
10 its part to make the home happy,
and Gods word learned in childhood
)ften keeps children from doing that
which will make home sad.
g. In happy home Gods word
should be talked about. "Thou shalt
ak OF them when thou sittest in thy
iouse." Oh, if there was only more
in our homes about God
md Gods word! 1t would make many
desert home to blossom as the rose.
We should not only talk more Of God,
'ut more to God in them. All our homes
would be happier if in them we talked
more of God and more to God.
4. In happy home Gods word
hould be obeyed. 1t should be bound
lpon our hands to direct them and be-
ween our eyes to direct our minds or
wills. Gods word should thus direct
ur thoughts, words and actions, and if
does our homes must be happy.
Bible Readings. Gen. vii, / Elk. Xxx,
z; Ruth /, 1929; Prov. vi, 20, 21;|
v, 10; xxx, II; Luke X, 3S-42; xiv,
o-32; Eph. vi, 10; Phil. ii, s. Col.
Il, 1925; Tim. V, A; III Tim. i, So;
Il, 14-l7; Jas. i, 90.