The Pursuit of Happiness...

We had a really fun Friday night where we got to feel kinda posh for about...oh, 3 hours. Some dear friends of ours had a suite for the Spurs game and they invited a few of the little people to tag along. :)

We had a great time, enjoyed the Spurs win, and for anyone who knows my affection for the Mavs, please don't feel confused...I'm still totally MFFL. My loyalty lies in Dallas, but Dave is a born and raised Spurs man so we're a house divided. On this occasion I gave Timmy D credit where credit is due and gave 1 or 2 "Go-Spurs-Go". Here are the 2 photos I got before the game even started (I hadn't even taken off my coat) and before I dropped my camera. May it rest in peace.

In other news, our sermon on Sunday was really great and I wanted to share it with you. The title was "The Recipe for a HAPPY Home" but the message can be applied to all relationships really. Marriage, family, friends, colleagues...it's a recipe for healthy interaction. Here is the CliffsNotes version: **I'm sorry for the spacing issues. It's pretty much impossible for me to fix!

H- Humor

Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” ~ Psalm 126:2

The home should be a place of joy and laughter. Your home should be fun! Fun for your kids, fun for friends to come over, fun between you and your spouse. People want to "hang out" in places they enjoy with people they enjoy. Make your home that place.

A- Affection

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. ~ Luke 15:20

We need affection from those we love. A hug, a pat on the back, a touch on the arm, further more a kiss, holding hands...we want to feel affection from those we love and children need affection. Hugs, sitting in your lap, holding their hand as you go for a walk, the act of touching (obviously I'm speaking of healthy interaction) builds affirmation and shows affection. Be the one to teach your children what healthy, normal affection looks like. It will go a long way in shaping how they view affection and how they seek to fill a void if there is one.

P- Praise

I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:2

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11

We should be an encouragement to one another. We should be building our family and friends up, encouraging and supporting, commending and praising, not tearing them down and being an accessory to low self worth and value. People tend to live up to your expectations. Set the bar high, encourage people to achieve and praise them when they do and encourage them along the way as they need encouragement. We can teach and we can rebuke but we can do it in a spirit of love continuing to place value in each other.

P- Pardoning

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. ~ Ephesians 4:32

Unfortunately, we're human. We're going to sin, we're going to hurt one another, and those closest to you tend to be the ones who hurt you the most. It stings the most when it's inflicted by someone you love. We need to be people who forgive. Not holding grudges or keeping score. We can't neglect proper discipline but we need to discipline and move on releasing them from their "debt". God didn't give us what we deserved, He gave us what we needed. And that is freedom from our sins. Who are we to not forgive others just as we have been forgiven?

Y- Yielding

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD. ~ Joshua 24:15

The most important of the bunch...be yielding. Love Jesus. Teach your family to love Jesus. Yield to God's leadership and Lordship over your home. He has great things in store for you and your family and there are blessings that come with rooting your home in Christ.

I enjoyed this acronym and I think it's a great reminder of the important things. I hope I can be a wife, daughter, sister, friend, co-worker who extends these graces to those in my life. I hope you all had a great weekend! Just another manic Monday...let's do it!