BRING PEACE INTO YOUR HOME

LITTLE THINGS TO BRING PEACE INTO YOUR HOME
I faintly whispered to my husband, “Oh, what must she be thinking??”
And his helpful response, “That we live here.” (Thank you, Dear).
But we soon lost ourselves in conversation and enjoyed a lovely time of catching up on each others’ lives. Ignoring the young boys rollerblading through the entryway and the teens crooning love songs while cleaning up the lunch dishes. Our own happy kind of chaos.
The hour passed quickly and our glamorous friend got up to go. Before leaving, however, she turned to say something. Then stopped. Clearly something was on her mind
MAYBE THERE’S NO EASY FORMULA, BUT HERE ARE 10 LITTLE THINGS THAT CAN HELP BRING PEACE INTO YOUR HOME:

1. Speak kindly. It’s amazing how a little kindness goes a long way to setting the tone for the home.
2. Gather regularly. For meals. For prayer. To simply hang out with each other. Enjoy your togetherness.
3. Laugh readily. Joke and play. Be ready to have a good time with one another. Lighten one another’s load with a good laugh.
4. Work cheerfully. It seems there’s always a job to be done. So why not make the most of it? Do all things without complaining and disputing. (Phil. 2:14).
5. Give generously. Of your time and your possessions. The home is a place full of all kinds of giving opportunities.
6. Forgive quickly. Don’t waste time nursing a grudge. Let it go right away and get on with a loving relationship.
7. Hug freely. Give your little ones a squeeze. Wrap your arms around your big kids. Your spouse could probably use one too!
8. Pray frequently. Ask God to bring peace into your home. Lift up the needs of the day. Seek Him for wisdom when you’re stumped (or even when you’re not).
9. Cheer loudly. Let your family know you’re behind them. All the way. Offer your enthusiastic support. Who doesn’t need to hear a warm cheer now and then?
10. Love genuinely. Seems obvious, I know. But sometimes we forget how powerful love can be in our home. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘”love will cover a multitude of sins.’” (I Pet. 4:8)
    So in all honesty? I often wish there was a little less dust on our piano and a few less shoes jumbled up on our front porch. I don’t know why those dirty socks can’t seem to make it to the laundry room and I wouldn’t mind if it was a wee bit quieter.
    But I guess we live here (as he often likes to remind me).
    In our dusty, noisy, slightly crazy – nevertheless peaceful – home.
    So how about you? What little things do you enjoy that contribute to a peaceful home? I’d love to hear them!
    With four children ages 4, 6, 9, and 11 years old, sometimes it seems “less than peaceful” in my home. Every single day I scramble to spend time mothering my children, getting to at least 3-5 loads of laundry (not kidding!), cleaning, cooking, homeschooling, along with all of the activities outside of my home we are involved in. (phew!!) It seems we have just cleaned up from breakfast and it is already time to have lunch and two minutes later we are praying for dinner! (Can I get an amen?!?!)
    It can all be very overwhelming and it sure doesn’t seem very peaceful to me. But I am called to be an INSTRUMENT of God's peace.
    Moms, I can’t help but wonder… Are we the ones that create most of the “chaos” that happens in our day to day lives? We are called to be instruments of peace, but can’t we just as much be instruments of chaos? Are we so focused on ourselves and our own agenda that we can’t focus on what really matters and what our true calling is?
    As a mother I am an instrument of peace in my home. God uses ME to bring peace to my household and to my children’s lives. When I am prepared for the day by spending time with God, studying His word, and praying, I am at peace. When I am focused on my first calling, my children and their needs, I am at peace. That peace is experienced not just by me, but by everyone in my home. I am an instrument of His peace to my home.
    Here are a 7 ways we can bring peace to our homes:
11. Follow hard after God. Walk in the Spirit. Our personal relationship with the Lord must be our number one priority. Ultimately without God, we will not have peace to pass on.
12. Love and honor our husband. Peace starts with God, and then into the relationship between husband and wife. Our babes are watching and following our relational lead. If we love each other well, we will bring an atmosphere of peace to our home.
13. Love our children. Now this seems obvious, but is it really? And are we really doing it? Squeeze them, smile at them, encourage them, teach them, laugh with them, read to them, pray with them, just love them..really love them. Say "I Love You" and show "I Love You".
14. Have a consistent routine. A consistent routine brings a sense of stability and safeness to a child. We create a sense of peace when they don’t have to constantly wonder what the next moment holds.
15. Put the computer away. Now this may seem a little strange because you are reading this right now via your computer, but this is important. The computer and cell phone can easily distract us. In fact, I believe we are living in a culture where moms are addicted to the internet. But....You don't have to be. Jot down a schedule of when you will be online and stick to it. You will feel free! Trust me.
16. Play worship music. There is such a peace when we are singing to God or just listening to the sweet sound of worship, no matter what our circumstances. The whole attitude of my home changes.
17. Keep a "clean" home. I first learned to do this by “scheduling” my cleaning. Now I don’t mean spotless here, but it is so very obvious to me that God created us women to love and care for our home, because when it is in disarray we feel it! When my home is clean and orderly I feel at peace, and again, I pass that peace on to my family.
    Friends, today I pray that God would use us in a mighty way to bring His peace into our homes! May we let Him use us as His instrument of peace?