Rx for a Healthy \nFamily
\n\n\n\n\n\nThis is the \nbeginning of a new day.\xa0 God has given me this day to use as I will.\xa0 I can \nwaste it or use it for good.\xa0 What I do today is very important because I am \nexchanging a day of my life for it.\xa0 When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone \nforever, leaving something in its place I have traded for it.\xa0 I want it to be a \ngain, not loss\u2014good, not evil\u2014success, not failure in order that I shall not \nforget the price I paid for it.
\n\n\n\n\n\n(Ephesians \n5:15-16)\xa0 \u201cBe very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, \nmaking the most of every opportunity, because the days are \nevil.\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\n\xa0A healthy, \nsupportive family should be..
\n\n\n\n\n\n\xfc \nA place of \nprotection
\n\n\n\n\n\n\xfc \nA place of \npreparation
\n\n\n\n\n\n\xfc \nA place to \nplay
\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat\u2019s the Rx \nfor Healthy Families?
\n\n\n\n\n\nA.\xa0\xa0 \nDecisions
\n\n\n\n\nB.\xa0\xa0 \nDisciplines
\n\n\n\n\nMaking the \nDecision
\n\n\n\n\n\n\xfc \nDetermine your \npriorities.
\n\n\n\n\n\n(Malachi 4:6)\xa0 \n\u201cHe will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the \nchildren to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a \ncurse.\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\n(1 Timothy 5:8)\xa0 \n\u201cIf anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate \nfamily, he has denied the faith and is worse than an \nunbeliever.\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\n\xfc \nDecide on your \nphilosophy.
\n\n\n\n\n\n(Joshua 24:15)\xa0 \n\u201cBut if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for \nyourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers \nserved beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are \nliving. But as for me and my household, we will serve the \nLORD.\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\n\xfc \nDevelop your \nproblem-solving strategy.
\n\n\n\n\n\n(Proverbs 24:3 \nNCV)\xa0 \u201cIt takes wisdom to have a good family, and it takes understanding to make \nit strong.\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\nManaging the \nDiscipline
\n\n\n\n\n\n1.\xa0 Put your \nfamily on your calendar first.\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0
\n\n\n\n\n\n(Psalm 90:12 \nLB)\xa0 \u201cTeach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to \nspend them as we should.\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\n2.\xa0 Give your \nmarriage top priority.
\n\n\n\n\n\n(Mark 3:25)\xa0 \u201cIf \na house is divided against itself, that house cannot \nstand.\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\n3.\xa0 Create and \nmaintain family traditions.
\n\n\n\n\n\n(Psalm 127:3)\xa0 \n\u201cSons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from \nhim.
4.\xa0 Find ways to \nspend time together.
\n\n\n\n\n\n(Deuteronomy 6:7 \nLB)\xa0 \u201cYou must teach these commandments to your children and talk about them \nwhen you are at home or out for a walk; at bedtime and the first thing in the \nmorning.\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\n5.\xa0 Express \nappreciation for each other.
\n\n\n\n\n\n(Proverbs \n15:23)\xa0 \u201cA man finds joy in giving an apt reply--and how good is a timely \nword!\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\n(Ephesians \n4:29)\xa0 \u201cDo not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what \nis helpful for building others up according to their \nneeds.\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\n6.\xa0 Resolve \nconflict as quickly as possible.
\n\n\n\n\n\n(Proverbs 17:9)\xa0 \n\u201cHe who covers over an offense promotes love, but \nwhoever repeats the matter separates close \nfriends.\u201d
\n\n\n\n\n\n(1 \nPeter 4:8)\xa0 \u201cAbove all, love \neach other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.\u201d
\n\n\n\n