Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.

The vision for Meat for Men — UNCOMPROMISING MANHOOD blog is to encourage husbands, fathers and single men in Biblical manhood.

GOD CANNOT LIE!

Spurgeon"If all my senses were to contradict God, I would deny every one of them and sooner believe myself to be out of my right mind than believe that God could lie!"
~ Charles H. Spurgeon
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FATHER/SON RETREAT THIS IS GOING TO BE AMAZING!

FatherSonCampSome of the fathers on our Hilltop Fellowship here in Primm Springs invite you to join them for an adventurous weekend of learning new things and opportunities to bond to your sons in the great wilderness of the Hilltop land.
Check out this website and register:
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COMING UP NEXT WEEKEND

ColinNancyScotlandNancy and I returned from Scotland last night, one day late as our flight was canceled for a day. We are now on our way to the Above Rubies Family Retreat in Panama City, Florida.
 
Next weekend we will be speaking at the Above Rubies FAMILY RETREAT in Missouri. There's still room for you to come to be blessed and encouraged and enjoy great fellowship. Bring the whole family.
 
AUGUST 18 – 20, MISSOURI
ABOVE RUBIES FAMILY RETREAT AT LOVE AND PURITY CAMPUS
5027 Wayne 380 Lot 10, Patterson, MO 63956
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
Blessings,
 
Colin and Nancy Campbell
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HIDE GOD’S WORD IN YOUR HEART

WordHiddenHeartPsalm 119:11: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

Fathers, we must teach our children what it means to hide God’s Word in their hearts. I believe it is one thing to have God’s Word in your memory, or even your mind (intellect), but it is another thing to hide God’s Word in your heart. You know when God’s Word is hidden in your heart because it becomes your strong conviction, and it affects your deepest feelings.

You know when God’s Word is hidden in your heart because it produces change in your life. You receive understanding and revelation, and it comes alive to you. It also produces the fear of the Lord so that you will not want to displease God in any way.

The way to get God’s Word into your heart is to pray it in for it is a divine happening. Ask God to put it in the hiding place of your heart where the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches will not be able to snatch it away.

How shallow our preaching is when it does not come from our hearts. How shallow our Christian testimony is if it does not come from our heart. Our husbandry and fatherhood should also come from our hearts (Malachi 4:4-6).

To read God’s Word is good,
to study it is better,
but to hide it in your heart is best.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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MAKE GOD’S WORD ALIVE TO YOUR CHILDREN

GodsWordAliveNehemiah 8:8: “They read in the book of the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

Fathers, we must not only read the God’s Word daily to our children but seek to break it open to them.

Luke 24:30-32 tells the wonderful story of the disciples who, unknowingly, walked with Jesus to Emmaus, “And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and broke, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

It is important that we daily read the Scriptures to our families. It is even more important to “break the bread,” “open the Scriptures,” and “rightly divide the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

It takes more than reading the Scriptures to feed the inner man. As we each have an “outer man” that can see, hear, touch, smell, and taste; so we also have an inner man that can also see, hear, touch, smell, and taste. The inner man is often malnourished and starved! Yet, the inner man is far more important to feed than the outer man.

Paul prayed for the Ephesians that God “would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit IN THE INNER MAN (Ephesians 3:16).

Fathers, when you read God’s Word to your children ask them questions, ask them to finish quoting a Scripture you are reading, ask them to explain what they think it means, illustrate the Word by giving daily examples. Make the Word “alive” to them. Encourage their participation so they don’t sit in their seat bored.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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THE CORE OF OUR BEING

InwardPartsPsalm 51:6 says, “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”

Men, have we purchased the truth when we have only given mental ascent to it? It is possible to consider truth, debate truth, reason truth, and even preach truth, yet still not buy it. Buying truth is much more than mere mental exercise. We must embrace it into the very core of our being.

Truth only changes us when it is received into the inward parts; otherwise it remains a shallow intellectual exercise. It is possible to dress up on the outside to appear religious and yet have next to no change on the inside. This is a dangerous state, for we not only fool others, but ourselves. But God is not fooled.

When truth enters the depths of our being motives will change, the self-nature will be crucified and Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth and the Life will reign. Christ will only reign when He sits on the throne in the depths of our hearts. When we receive Christ into our hearts, we must also receive His truth for they are inseparable.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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ASK QUESTIONS, THE BEST WAY TO TEACH

13d6b34281ffaffe61796cb21457d9b6It is obvious when we read Deuteronomy 6:7-9 that God wants our children to be constantly confronted with the truth of His Word in every aspect of life. There is no separation of church and state here.

Let’s read it again in Deuteronomy 6:7-9: “And thou shalt teach them DILIGENTLY unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Verse 2 says, “Keep all his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.”

Each father must be involved in applying and teaching God’s Word in a generational sense. While it is a good thing to personally acquaint yourself with truth, you also have the responsibility before God to apply these truths to your children, and their children!

My wife and I find the meal able an excellent opportunity to make this happen. I believe we must not “drag our feet,” but enthusiastically make it interesting by giving the sense of the Word and asking questions.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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A FRIEND OF GOD AND A FRIEND OF TRUTH

FriendGodTruthWe read Proverbs 23:23 in my last post. What does it mean to “buy the truth”? The Hebrew for “buy” is qanah and means “to erect, create, purchase, procure.” We buy the truth when we desire it for why would we buy something we do not desire?

Men, it is important for us to create a desire for truth in our children. It stands for reason that fathers must set the highest example possible as men of truth because God has given to children an innate desire to emulate their parents. It is of utmost importance for us fathers to capitalize on this blessing.

What a blessing it must have been for Isaac when God first introduced himself as the God of His Father, Abraham (Genesis 26:24). Isaac had indeed been blessed by having a father who was a friend of God, and being a friend of God, automatically made him a friend of truth.

Sad to say, many a young man would not want God to say to them that He was the God of their father because their father was too mean, too tough, or had run off with another woman. It was by example that Isaac developed a desire to meet the God of his father who had blessed his father and would now bless him.

Remember, fathers, that truth needs to be coupled with grace, or truth can be too severe. Jesus was “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Let’s be like Jesus.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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WORTH EVERY SACRIFICE

BuyTruthProverbs 23:23 says: “Buy the truth and sell it not.”

Men, we must be wise when we instruct our families about liberty and freedom that we do not put the cart before the horse, as the old saying goes. We can be so taken up with liberty that we fail to put sufficient emphasis on that which goes before it, THE TRUTH. It is the truth that makes us free (John 8:32).

What a revelation it is when we realize that the greatest heritage we can buy for our children is truth. God will only bless that which is built upon the truth. It may be costly to purchase the truth for our families. Homeschool requires personal sacrifice. Sharing the Scriptures and praying together morning and evening comes with the cost of changing one’s schedule and priorities in order to make it work. T

he truth is indeed “the pearl of great price” (Matthew 13:46). It is worth the sale or sacrifice of everything else to get it for your family, for in purchasing the truth you get Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! One expositor says, “This pearl is worth everything, and everything is what it will take to obtain it.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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DAILY MANNA FROM HEAVEN

ContinueWordEven as the children of Israel feasted on “all the lamb” (Exodus 12:9-10), so we must feast on "all the truth,” to the point that the truth becomes us! In this way we become, in a sense, a living embodiment of the truth to our families. Truth always begets liberty and freedom. Therefore, our wives and families will live in an environment of truth and all its ensuing benefits.

Jesus said, “If ye CONTINUE in my word, then are ye my DISCIPLES INDEED” (John 8:31-32). Sadly, many fathers are far too casual about continuing in the Word of Christ, both for themselves and to their families.

Acts 2:42: “And they CONTINUED steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

Acts 2:46: “And they, CONTINUING daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singles of heart.”

A sermon at church once a week is not sufficient to keep us spiritually healthy. This would amount to a starvation diet to our physical bodies, and we could not survive such treatment. It would be physical abuse to our children to deprive them of three square meals each day.

Isn’t it spiritual abuse to deprive them of daily food from God’s Word? And do we regard the physical more important than the spiritual?  I think so. We deserve to be questioned and challenged for we deny our families the privilege of becoming “DISCIPLES INDEED.” To be “disciples indeed” can only happen through the daily continuance of feeding on the manna of heaven.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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FIGHT FOR TRUTH

Fight For TruthJohn 8:31-32: “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
 
We are privileged to live in a nation that has more freedoms than most other nations. However, these freedoms are being seriously threatened and many have already been taken away. Many of our founding fathers were well educated in the Scriptures by God-fearing parents and for this reason we have founding documents that provide liberty and freedom for all.
 
Sadly today, most Christian parents know very little of God’s truth. Truth is the foundation of freedom, but it is only comprehended truth that sets us free. If parents are not familiar with truth, the children will be less familiar.
 
Children today know all about the latest movies, music, sports and electronic devices. They know what their public school teachers teach them and yet they know precious little of the only truth that is able to set them free.
 
Truth has been fought for in the past and must be fought for again. Yet, it’s hard to fight for something you know little about. Men, above all things, get acquainted with the truth, for your family’s sake and the nation!
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin Campbell
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GENEROUS SERVINGS OF TRUTH

GenServings“Truth falls in the street and equity cannot enter” (Isaiah 59:14).

The reason why truth falls in the streets is because it falls in the home first! Christian homes are meant to be cradles of truth,
fountains of truth,
gateways of truth,
bastions of truth,
and seminaries of truth.

Bibles should not be left on shelves gathering dust. When a child leaves a Christian home to begin their life in the world, they should not need to go to a Bible college. They should have received their Bible college training each day of their life.

All meal tables in ALL Christian homes should be dedicated to feasting on truth as well as nourishing physical bodies. It is of absolute necessity that fathers become truth lovers and truth embracers or our civilization is doomed.

Many of our streets have become very dangerous places in which to walk. Our public schools have become dangerous places to send our children. Why? Because the truth has been thrown out! Public education has not produced equity in our streets.

We fathers must take our stand for home education with GENEROUS SERVINGS OF TRUTH.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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WE MUST DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS

e735933f5f5848383d25da6b26daa974Isaiah 59:14, 15 is a picture of our nation today: “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment"
 
Much of our justice system has become liberal and godless. We have thrown the Bible out of our state education and our halls of leadership as well. Millions of our sons and daughters are now being taught that homosexuality is acceptable, promiscuity is normal, abortion is your choice, and now transgenderism is being promoted. The world has turned upside down!
 
When we remove the Bible, we remove the truth.
 
When we remove the truth, we accept a lie.
 
The sad part about this is that fathers have failed to read the Bible on a daily basis to their families. The only antidote for a lie is the truth and it’s only in God’s Word that truth is revealed.
 
Because the moral situation is so corrupt, we must double our every effort to rectify this epidemic of falsehood. We must take back the moral ground, father by father, family by family. To rally the nation to resist evil, what we need more godly fathers who will daily open up the Word of God to their children.
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin Campbell
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IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY

dad readingWithout question, fathers are the most responsible for the biblical instruction of their children. In fact, fathers are not only COMMANDED but ORDAINED of God to instruct their children in biblical truth.

It is an inescapable role of fatherhood. If we fathers abdicate biblical instruction to our children, we abdicate true scriptural fatherhood. If we do not teach our children the truth of God’s Word, they will be deprived of the most important commodity in the entire world. If we do not accept this duty, it shows that we do not regard God’s Word as that important.

“The father to the children shall make known thy truth” (Isaiah 38:19).

“Our fathers have told us . . . We will not hide them from their children, showing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord . . . he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: that the generation to come mighty know them…” (Read the full passage in Psalm 78:1-9).

We must not pass this awesome responsibility on to our wives, although they have an important supportive role. We must not pass this responsibility on to the church, although it also has an important supportive role. We fathers have the primary responsibility.

Be encouraged.

 

Colin Campbell

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FULL-TIME SERVICE

FulltimeServiceColossians 3:23-24 says: “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.”
 
Real men put their whole heart into whatever they do. Doing your work heartily and unto the Lord means working with intensity, enthusiastically, willingly, and cheerfully. You do not work grudgingly and you are not easily distracted.
 
Men, I believe it is so important to realize that your real Employer and Rewarder is the Lord. In this respect, you are in full-time service for Christ. If you get dismissed, or laid off, it would do well to recap your service to the Lord. Have you been working heartily? Christian men would gain a whole lot more respect from the Lord, as well as their fellowmen, if they put this Scripture into daily practice.
 
Even if you get laid off because the business has closed down you can be assured the Lord will soon prosper you with another job if you have been diligently applying the above Scripture. If you feel you have failed in your work ethic, repent, and tell the Lord that if He opens up another job for you that this time your attitude towards your work will be a lot better. Ask the Lord to help you work HEARTILY for Him.
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin Campbell
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ENTHUSIASTIC WORKERS

EnthusiasticWhat a testimony it would be for Christ if Christian men were the most enthusiastic workers in the nation’s work force? I could not, in the slightest way, imagine Jesus Christ doing the work God gave Him to do with a grudging attitude.
 
Jesus said: “My meat is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34). Jesus likens His work to sustenance.
 
Psalm 110:3: “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power… thou hast the dew of thy youth.” The Hebrew word for “willing” denotes spontaneity and abundance. This is the same attitude as enthusiasm. This is a Messianic Psalm and the Messiah in you and me has the dew of youthful freshness.
 
We do not have to wait for the millennium to let the world see how fresh, youthful and enthusiastic Christ is in us. Let today be "the day of His power" in you and me.
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin Campbell
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ARE YOU FINISHING THE RACE?

RUFinishRace.jpgMen, I believe it is manly to not only start something, but more importantly, to finish it!
 
Luke 14:28-29 says: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to FINISH it? Lest haply after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him.”
 
The Christ who lives within us is the “author and FINISHER of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
 
Philippians 1:6 reminds us that “Being confident of this very thing that he with hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
 
If Jesus Christ, our great Captain, believes in finishing things, then all I can say is that this should make a big difference in us who profess we follow Him. It means we finish what we begin.
 
Let’s talk about the tower of our marriage. Did we not first sit down and count the cost as to whether we had what it takes to perform it and complete it until “death do us part”? It is an indictment that over 50 percent, in the church, have not had sufficient fortitude, discipline, will-power, love, and courage to keep building until the conclusion of life.
 
What about the tower of raising a family for God? Did we sit down and count the cost? Again, many Christian men, for whatever unscriptural reason, haven’t got what it takes to have more than one or two children. Even then, they leave them to day care and public schools to raise. It’s high time to have a recap on what we need to finish.
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin Campbell
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FINISH STRONG

FinishStrong1 Corinthians 9:24 says: “Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.”
 
Men, fatherhood never finishes until your life is over. We begin fathering when the children start coming. Every young father should do all he can to assist his wife during “the baby years.” It is important for the father to regularly hold his baby and do his best to relate by speaking, smiling, and singing. As a loving husband, he should take every opportunity possible to assist with the extra chores that come with each newborn baby.. Baby bonding is extremely important.
 
Following the baby stage, the father should seek to be involved in every possible way with his children’s lives. As important as it is for children to learn to do chores, the father should realize that all children innately love fun. A wise father will seek to be a “fun father” with his children. It is wise for a father not to be a “sober-side,” but vice versa, not to be all fun without seriousness.
 
Be involved and available in every stage throughout your children’s lives, even when they are grown and married with their own children. Be a great finisher! Remember, fatherhood is not finished until you are finished!
 
Be encouraged.
 
Colin Campbell
 
 
Painting: Father and Son by Natalia Eremeyeva Duarte
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"BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD." (Romans 12:2).

RolloMay“The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice. It is conformity.”
 
~ Rollo May
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UNCOMPROMISING

UncompromissingI believe that most men respect the manly virtue of having backbone for it speaks of the ability to stand up in the face of opposition. A man may appear strong physically but if his spine is injured, he is still a weak man. There is something wrong when a man speaks the truth but backs down when he is opposed by friends or foes. He reveals that he is a pushover.
 
Every man should stand by his convictions to truth and never back down, not for anyone, no matter how many important or wealthy they may be. It is morally wrong to cave in and compromise on matters of truth.
 
Speak the truth and stand by it, come hell or high water!
 
We are living in days of much pressure to compromise on moral values such as homosexuality, abortion, and adultery. If we keep compromising, the day will soon come when we will not know right from wrong and we will start calling what is wrong right. This is the world we are facing now.
 
There will always be multitudes who will pat you on the back when you compromise values to their way of thinking, but deep down they would respect you more if you stuck to your guns about the truth.
 
"Buy the truth, and sell it not" (Proverbs 23:23).
 
Be encouraged,
 
Colin Campbell
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Above Rubies Address

AboveRubies
Email Nancy

PO Box 681687
Franklin, TN 37068-1687

Phone : 931-729-9861
Office Hrs 9am - 5pm, M - F, CTZ