Each Autumn I've followed along with the Making Your Home a Haven challenge at Women Living Well. Courtney gives some practical ways in which we can help make our homes a haven for our loved ones.
Here is the challenge for week 1
"Go buy an extra large candle and light a candle everyday in your home. I will be starting mine in the morning but you can start yours at dinner time or whenever is convenient for you. I will be placing mine in the kitchen – the main hub of my home. Each time the glimmer of the candle catches your eye, say a prayer for peace and patience within your home."
One of the things I especially love about this challenge is lighting our candle each morning. Although we don't do it everyday, we've continued with this practice all throughout the year. Our candle is pictured above and is part of the centerpiece on our living room coffee table. Our living room is open to our school room and the kids spend quite a bit of time here reading and working on school.
One morning this week as we were preparing to have family worship time, the Holy Spirit spoke to me. I was to have the boys each take turns lighting the candle and then praying for peace in our home rather than my doing it. I think it has made a huge impact on them as they are realizing that we are each responsible to do our part.
Here is a picture of my youngest praying this morning after he lit our candle.
I shared this quote earlier in the week in my Daybook post but I'll share it here again because it fits so beautifully.
So how do we go about creating a foretaste of heaven in our homes. First through prayer - pray daily for your marriage - the earthly visible example of Christ and the church. This relationship is the most important one you will have aside from your personal relationship with Christ. Next pray for your relationship with each of your children. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you find creative ways to love on and encourage them. Pray for the relationships of your children one with the other. If you are noticing conflicts or issues, make them a matter of prayer.
Living peaceably with others begins in our homes, amongst our families.
Romans 12:9-21 (KJV)
"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints, given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengenance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in doing so thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
I'd love to hear from you in the comments... how do you work to create your home a haven?
