Good Attitudes Build Happy Homes – 1-A Ras

How To Have A Happy Home
1-A – Good Attitudes Build Happy Homes
Ras Robinson

What is an attitude? Attitude is a settled way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, typically one that is reflected in a person’s behavior. Attitude could be described with these words: view, viewpoint, outlook, perspective.

Some guidelines and things to remember concerning attitudes God has shown me I should have as husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather:

• My attitude is that my home is blessed by God.
• Each day is a new day and we forget what lies behind. We concentrate on the present while stretching toward the future.
• Problems are opportunities for breakthroughs. Big problems are opportunities for big breakthroughs.
• I am a servant to my wife and children.
• God is in total command of my family and not me.
• I am no longer a dirt farmer’s son; rather I am a joint heir with Jesus.
• My job is to create, with my words and actions, a positive atmosphere in our family.
• Daily I create the atmosphere in my home by my attitudes.

Let’s look at some verses of Scripture regarding our attitudes:

Does the Bible speak specifically regarding attitude?  “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)

A good additive of thanksgiving enhances attitude.  “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” (Colossians 4:2 NIV)

Adopt humility with your attitude as did Christ.  “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death–even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5-8 NIV)

Right attitudes lead children to righteousness.  “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17 NASB)

Right attitudes gain approval with both man and God. “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.” (Romans 14:17-18 NLT)

Right attitudes require humility and death to selfishness. “You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8 NLT)

I pray every day that my home will be filled with the peace and presence of Jesus, first for my family and then for the world to see what miracles God has done in our home. He is certainly not finished with us yet. There is a large wooden piece of art to the left of our front door that makes our declaration loud and clear. It states for all to see, “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15”

In addition to the wooden piece of art, we also follow the Jewish tradition of placing a small wooden container called a “mezuzah” on our doorpost. A mezuzah is a piece of parchment (often contained in a decorative case) with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21).These verses comprise the Jewish prayer “Shema Yisrael,” beginning with the phrase: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.” The parchment is prepared by a qualified scribe, written in black indelible ink and with a special quill pen. The parchment is then rolled up and placed inside the case and fastened to the door frame as a reminder to all who come and go that “the Lord is our God.”

Next Tuesday, April 8, my wife will release her insights about the importance of having good attitudes in the home. She is very transparent, fair and full of mercy. I pray you will totally buy into these tenets and insights we bring from our 57 years of marriage. I sure hope she does not totally undress my weaknesses before you. I can assure you that she will call attitudes by the right name and help all of us consider our way toward the goal of “How to Build a Happy Home.” I totally trust her to lead you with God anointed insights and delightful and sometimes maybe painful grist for your mill to bring all of us to a happier home life.

 

How To Have A Happy Home – Introduction

HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY HOME – INTRODUCTION
Ras Robinson

WHY ARE WE WRITING THIS BOOK?
BACKGROUND.  My grandfather and grandmother had chiseled on their tombstone marker the words “To God Be the Glory.” Those words were a seed for me and now for my family, believing that all our family will bring glory to our God and Savior Jesus the Christ.

In raising our two children, we taught them that our family does not get divorces. My father and mother raised six children, four girls and two boys. I am the youngest. When my siblings would come visit our parents, I would hear the latest news from their families, good and bad. In that environment, I determined that if I ever got married, my wife and I would remain committed in marriage for life. I knew it would be a challenge at times to stay together, but I knew it was God’s will. Our two children deserved that solid and stable foundation.

In the last few years, some of our family members have been on the brink of seeking divorce, just as Bev and I were when our two children were pubescent kids. But we are pleased that, so far, all of us have stayed the course. We believe God is also pleased.

I performed a marriage ceremony for a beautiful young couple. It was a great celebration for the two who were so much in love. A while later they separated. I just read that she has decided to return to her husband and try again. Needless to say I am elated about this news. But full disclosure dictates that I must also share that many other marriages are in deep trouble and looking at divorce.

THE STATE OF MARRIAGE IN AMERICA. In preparing this article, I referenced the current divorce rate through a Google search. Here is what I found to be current in a report filed in 2013:

“Marriage is a counter-cultural act in a throwaway society.” — Dr. William H. Doherty, noted marriage scholar and therapist.

An overview stated: “In the United States, researchers estimate that 40%–50% of all first marriages, and 60% of second marriages, will end in divorce.”

WHY BEV AND I ARE WRITING THIS BOOK ABOUT “HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY HOME”: Today my wife Bev and I begin, after 57 years of marriage, releasing some revelatory and practical teaching on the subject of “How to Have a Happy Home.” We believe the best starting place to having a happy home is having the right attitudes because “Right Attitudes Build Happy Homes.” That will be the focus for our first chapters.

“Attitudes” absolutely make or break happy homes. Do you have the right attitude towards your spouse? How about your offspring? We want to share with you what we have learned. Our intention is that it will inspire and help you in your home.

The cost in our marriage was great from our wrong attitudes. We came very close to losing our marriage when our two children – daughter Robin and son Kevin were in or near their teenage years. Those were our learning times. We both desired a great marriage but seemed to know little about how to make it better. So, we asked God to help us. Bev and I will share how we came to be filled with the Holy Spirit and learned to make and keep Jesus as Lord in our lives and home. Once that happened, our attitudes became more righteous and our home more happy.

Our prayer is that you can learn from our mistakes as well as many, many things we have discovered about having a happy home, often through trial and error. We hope these will bless and help you enjoy an even more happy home.

Much of what we share was first learned from seeking God in Scripture, church and prayer. We are both God-hogs with faith that never fails. Additionally, our bookcases contain most books published in recent years on Christian marriage. They have collectively been very helpful.

Our format for “How to Have a Happy Home” will be simple and based in a desire that what we share will inspire and teach you how to be a total success in your home. It is our belief that having the right attitudes, based in the righteousness of Jesus will be a giant step forward.

We have agreed that I will lead off each time with my perspective, then Bev will give hers a couple of days later.

Our topics will include:
Husbands, Fathers, Grandfathers and Great Grandfathers
Wives, Mothers, Grandmothers and Great Grandmothers
Parenting
Grandparenting and Great Grandparenting
Special Occasions with the Family

The first chapter “Right Attitudes Build Happy Homes” will be posted on Thursday, April 3.