House Rules

As I begin to get ready for a new school-year, I always try to get things in good working order in other matters as well.  Just today I began tweaking our House Rules a little bit.  When I began making our House Rules, my younger daughter was just learning to read, and I had to keep things very simple.  As time went on, it got more and more complicated.  Now, however, I have found that simpler is better.  I was able to break down everything so that it fit under four basic rules.  I thought some of you might be interested in using our house rules and/or modifying them to suit your family's needs, so here they are:

ANDERSON FAMILY HOUSE RULES

1.  LOVE the LORD (Mark 12:30)

•     God loves you; Jesus died for you.  Respect the love you have been shown.
•     Love and obey God and all other things will fall into place.
•     Choose to be thankful and content.
•     Pray.

2.  LOVE ONE ANOTHER (John 13:34-35)

•     Honor and obey your parents with a respectful attitude.
•     Serve, encourage and forgive one another.
•     Treat others the way you want to be treated.
•     Be generous.
•     Be a peacemaker.
•     Be honest and kind.
•     Give help cheerfully when you see it is needed; accept help graciously when it is offered.

3.  LOVE YOURSELF as a CREATION of GOD (1 Corinthians 6:19)

•     Choose to be joyful and patient.
•     Do what you know is right, regardless of what others say.
•     Exercise self-control in every kind of situation.
•     Ask before you act if you are ever unsure.

4.  BE a LOVING STEWARD of GOD'S GIFTS (Matthew 25:14 - 30)

•     Use our resources wisely.
•     Complete your assigned tasks with a cheerful heart.
•     Take initiative to help without having to be asked.

Remember to show J.O.Y.!
J - Jesus first
O - Others second
Y - Yourself last