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.

Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

Strengthening Families Across the World through the encouragement of women in their high calling from God as wives, mothers and homemakers.

Nancy Campbell

OUR COUNTRY’S PRIDE

countryPride(When you’ve read this poem, I’d love hear from you which two lines you love the best!)
 
What does our country need? Not armies standing
With sabres gleaming ready for the fight;
Not increased navies, skillful and commanding,
To bound the waters with an iron might;
Not haughty men with glutted purses trying
To purchase souls, and keep the power of place;
Not jeweled dolls with one another vying
For palms of beauty, elegance, and grace.
 
But we want women, strong of soul, yet lowly,
With that rare meekness, born of gentleness;
Women whose lives are pure and clean and holy,
The women whom all little children bless;
Brave, earnest women, helpful to each other,
With finest scorn for all things low and mean;
Women who hold the names of wife and mother,
Far nobler than the title of a queen!
 
Oh! these are they who mold the men of story,
These mothers, ofttimes shorn of grace and youth,
Who, worn and weary, ask no greater glory
Than making some young soul the home of truth;
Who sow in hearts all fallow for the sowing,
The seeds of virtue and of scorn for sin,
And patient, watch the beauteous harvest growing
And weed out tares which crafty hands cast in.
 
Women who do not hold the gift of beauty
As some rare treasure to be bought and sold,
But guard it as a precious aid to duty,
The outer framing of the inner gold;
Women who, low above their cradles bending,
Let flattery's voice go by, and give no heed,
While their pure prayers like incense are ascending
THESE are our country's pride, our country's need.
 
~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox
 
P. S. What lines do you love best?
 
I love the lines . . .
“Women who hold the names of wife and mother,
FAR NOBLER THAN THE TITLE OF A QUEEN!”
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Nancy Campbell

THERE ARE NO WORDS

NoWordsI search among the plain and lovely words
To find what the one word “Mother” means. As well
Try to define the tangled song of birds,
The echo in the hills of one clear bell—
One cannot snare the wind—or catch the wings
Of shadows flying low across the wheat.
Ah—who can prison simple, natural things
That make the long days beautiful and sweet?
 
“Mother”—a word that holds the tender spell
Of all the dear, essential things of earth:
A home, clean sunlit rooms, and the good smell
Of bread, a table spread, a glowing hearth,
And love beyond the dream of anyone—
I search for words for her—and there are none.
 
~ Grace Noll Crowell
 
 
Painting: Mother and Child by Sarah Mathis Schulz
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Nancy Campbell

A MOTHER’S INFLUENCE

MotherInfluenceI took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
It moved and yielded to my will.
 
I came again when days were passed;
The bit of clay was hard at last,
The form I gave it still it bore,
But I could change that form no more.
 
I took a piece of living clay
And touched it gently day by day,
And molded with my power and art
A young child’s soft and yielding heart.
 
I came again when years were gone;
It was a man I looked upon;
That early impress still he wore,
And I could change that form no more.
 
~ Unknown
 
 
 
Painting: Mollie Faustman
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Nancy Campbell

A MOTHER'S PRAYER

PrayerMotherMother's Day was Sunday, although I believe every day is Mother's Day. Anyway, I thought I'd keep it going for a week and send you out each day this a week a poem about mothers to encourage your mother's heart. Be blessed, dear mother. You are truly fulfilling the greatest career in the nation. The nation would not last without you!
 
A MOTHER'S PRAYER
 
I wash the dirt from little feet,
And as I wash, I pray,
“Lord, keep them ever pure and true
To walk the narrow way.”
 
I wash the dirt from little hands,
And earnestly I ask,
“Lord, may they ever yielded be
To do the humblest task.”
 
I wash the dirt from little knees,
And pray, “Lord, may they be
The place where victories are won
And orders sought from Thee.”
 
I scrub the clothes that soil so soon,
And pray, “Lord, may their dress
Throughout eternal ages be
Thy robe of righteousness.”
 
Ere many hours shall pass, I know
I’ll wash these hands again,
And there’ll be dirt upon their clothes
Before the day shall end.
 
But as they journey on through life
And learn of want and pain,
“Lord, keep their precious little hearts
Cleansed from sin and stain.
 
For soap and water cannot reach
Where Thou alone can’st see.
Their hands and feet- these I can wash,
I trust their souls to Thee.”
 
~ Author Unknown
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Nancy Campbell

MOTHERHOOD IS THE GREATEST CAREER!

GreatestCareerWhy settle for a lesser one?

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Nancy Campbell

WHAT IS A MOTHER?

WhatIsAMotherIt takes a Mother’s LOVE
To make a house a home,
A place to be remembered,
No matter where we roam.
 
It takes a Mother’s PATIENCE
To bring a child up right,
And her COURAGE and her CHEERFULNESS
To make a day bright.
 
It takes a Mother’s THOUGHTFULNESS
To mend a heart’s deep “hurts,”
And her SKILL and her ENDURANCE
To mend little socks and shirts.
 
It takes a Mother’s KINDNESS
To forgive us when we err,
To sympathize in trouble
And bow her head in prayer.
 
It takes a mother’s WISDOM
To recognize our needs
And to give us reassurance
By her loving words and deeds.
 
It takes Mother’s ENDLESS FAITH,
Her CONFIDENCE and TRUST
To guide us through the pitfalls
Of selfishness and lust.
 
And that is why in all the world
There could not be another
Who could fulfill God’s purpose
As completely as a MOTHER!
 
--Author Unknown
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Nancy Campbell

TO THE MOTHERS OF THE WORLD . . .

ToMothersMy husband woke up this morning and began writing. “Here’s a message from me to all the mothers,” he said.
 
TO THE MOTHERS OF THE WORLD . . . FROM MY HUSBAND
 
I honor all mothers today. I am grateful for mothers. They are the most important foundational stones in the building of families, cities, and nations. When motherhood falls, the families, the cities, and the nations fall.
 
Every person born into this world since Adam and Eve has come through the womb of a mother. The womb of the mother is the studio where the Master Builder of all creation designs and creates all the intricate parts of each new person and puts them together over the space of nine months.
 
Every newborn baby must be cradled and nurtured in the arms of a loving, caring, and devoted mother. If not, that baby will suffer emotionally and nervously which will negatively affect their whole life.
 
Mothers are the anchors of the home. Without a mother the home has no anchor. Home and motherhood and synonymous terms.
 
Motherhood is a very sacrificial role. Motherhood is the laying down of one’s life so that families, cities, and nations will be built. God designed it to come out of the home where . . .
the sacrifice of love,
the sacrifice of nurturing,
the sacrifice of faithfully training and teaching,
the sacrifice of sleepless nights, and
the sacrifice of loving tears . . .
all comes through the heart of true mothers.
 
The devil wants to destroy motherhood. But . . .
We exalt motherhood.
We elevate motherhood.
We praise, honor, and applaud motherhood.
We speak up and stand up for motherhood.
We push back every negative voice that comes against motherhood.
 
Be blessed today, mothers.
 
COLIN CAMPBELL
 
 
Painting: TOMPKINS Frank H.
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Nancy Campbell

EVERY DAY IS A BUILDING DAY

BuildingDatAlways building up; never tearing down. As we speak life, love, encouragement, kindness, and vision into our marriages and families each day we build strong families and ultimately a strong nation.

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Nancy Campbell

BANNER WAVING MOTHERS

LordBannerWe read an amazing description of the bride of Christ in Song of songs 6:10: “Who is this that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, TERRIBLE AS AN ARMY WITH BANNERS.”
 
This is not the picture we would equate with a bride, is it? But this is how God sees His church, the bride of Christ—and of the wife of a husband in the home.
 
This is a picture of an army marching to battle with their banners lifted high. They are not retreating. They are on the attack. They are a scary sight as they push back the enemy.
 
Let’s look at some other translations:
 
HCSB: “awe-inspiring as an army with banners.”
 
CJB: “formidable as an army marching under banners.”
 
ESV: “awesome as an army with banners.”
 
Banners are a sign of victory. They reveal what we believe and what we stand for. God is a banner holder. One of His salvation names is Jehovah-Nissi, The Lord is my banner (Exodus 17:15).
 
He wants us to hold up our banners too. Yes, we as wives and mothers in our homes must be banner holders. We hold up the banner of God’s truth in our homes. Holding it high. Never letting our banners fall to the ground. We are the transmitters of God’s truth to our children and this generation.
 
One of my favorite Scriptures is Psalm 60:4: “Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be DISPLAYED because of the truth.”
 
Are you holding the banner of truth high mothers? This takes purpose, tenacity and strength. Never let the enemy grab your banner, carrying it off, and laughing in your face. Keep standing strong in this evil day and “having done all, stand” with your banner lifted high.
 
You are the protector of your home front. You are not cowardly hiding from the enemy. You are waving your banners high. You will not allow the enemy to come against your marriage, to woo your children from the truth, or to enter your home. The only way you see the enemy is a foe to be utterly defeated and routed.
 
Psalm 20:5: “In the name of our God, we will set up our banners.”
 
Psalm 84:16: “Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?”
 
Let’s be banner waving mothers . . .
Holding up the banner of truth against all deception.
Holding up the banner of love against all bitterness and hate.
Holding up the banner of righteousness against all evil.
Holding up the banner of purity against all immorality and uncleanness.
Holding up the banner of unity against all dissension and strife.
Holding up the banner of contentment against all discontentment.
Holding up the banner of faithfulness against all faithlessness.
Holing up the manner of motherhood against all counterfeits of Satan.
 
Are you flying the banners of the Lord from your home?
 
Love from Nancy Campbell
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Nancy Campbell

HOW DO WE KEEP UNITY?

KeepUnityWhat a momentous job we have as wives and mothers. It’s no ordinary job. It’s the most powerful in the nation. One of our many great tasks is to be the peacemakers and to keep unity in the home. Wow, that’s not easy, is it? Sometimes we ourselves can be the cause of disunity!
 
What did Jesus say? “No house divided against itself will stand” (Matthew 12:25 ESV).
 
Here are a few more translations:
 
“A family splintered by feuding will fall apart” (NLT).
 
“Every household divided against itself will not survive” (CJB)
 
“Any household that is disunited cannot last” (Goodspeed).
 
Do you want your marriage to last? Do you want your home and family to stand together to the end? Here’s the answer. Guard your marriage. Keep the spirit of unity. Cultivate family togetherness. Work toward harmony. Romans 12:16 commands us to “Live in harmony with one another.”
 
Now that doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything! Colin and I don’t always agree about everything, but we don’t let that hinder our togetherness. My husband says, “We don’t have to agree with each other on everything; we just have to love one another.” Our grown children are independent and outspoken and sometimes have differing views. But that doesn’t hinder our unity together. In fact, we love discussions and debates together. We enjoy sharpening one another’s minds.
 
Therefore, even in our differences, we seek to keep unity. We seek to keep a good attitude. We keep forgiving. We keep loving. We forbear with one another. And most of all, endeavor to keep the unity.
 
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
 
P.S. A good way to do this is to put into practice all the ONE ANOTHER Scriptures that God gives us in His Word (41 of them!). You can find these in 100 DAYS OF BLESSING, Volume 4. Available from www.aboverubies.org
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YOU ARE DOING A GOOD WORK

AGooDWorkEphesians 6:8 tells us: “Whatsoever GOOD thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive the Lord.”
 
Dear mother, I want to remind you that you are doing a GOOD work. God tells us in Titus 2-5 that the “GOOD” things the older women must teach the younger women are all about the home--loving your husband, loving your children, and being a keeper at home. When you embrace this lifestyle God planned for you, you are doing a GOOD work. When you nurse your baby, teach your children, prepare the meals, clean, and keep your house in order you are doing GOOD things.
 
1 Timothy 5:10 also describes the woman in the home--embracing and nurturing children, showing hospitality, and ministering to the needy. Once again it says these are “GOOD works.”
 
And what does God say when you do these good things? You receive your reward from the Lord. Be encouraged today. As you pour your life into building your marriage and your family, it is never wasted. God sees every effort. And you will not miss your eternal reward.
 
1 Corinthians 15:8: “Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye now that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
 
Live in the joy of knowing you are doing a good work,
 
Nancy Campbell
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Nancy Campbell

GOD IS A PERSONAL AND FAMILY GOD

PersonalFamilyGodDo your children know God as real and personal in their lives? Many children grow up in “Christian” homes and yet never have a personal experience with Jesus Christ. They don’t get to know God in a personal way. And yet our God is a personal and relational God. He longs for fellowship with His people.
 
One of the names that God calls Himself is “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Our God is the Creator of the world and yet He does not call Himself “the God of Creation.” He is the creator and upholder of the whole universe, but He doesn’t call Himself “The God of the Universe.” He calls Himself by the names of His covenant people.
 
As we read through the first book of the Bible, only two chapters tells us of the creation of the whole world. The rest of the book until chapter 50 is all about people—about His chosen servant, Abraham, and his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. This is our God. He is a family God. He says in Jeremiah 31:1: “I will be the God of ALL THE FAMILIES of Israel, and they shall be my people.”
 
When God introduced Himself to Moses out in the backside of the desert, He said: “I am the God of thy father (that would be Amram), the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”
 
When God gave the commission to Moses to tell the Israelites back in Egypt that God was coming to deliver them, He told him in Exodus 3:15: “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is MY NAME FOREVER, and this is my memorial UNTO ALL GENERATIONS.”
 
He also wants to be your personal and family God. He longs to be your friend. He wants you to teach your children to be friends with God. God created us for His fellowship. Of course, we can’t be frie3nds with God if we have sin in our hearts as our sin separates us from God. That’s why He did to save us and free us the power of sin so we can enjoy fellowship with Him (Isaiah 59:2).
 
Don’t let your children grow up in your home without knowing God. Teach them who God is. Draw them close to Him so they will love Him with all their hearts and minds and souls and strength. Teach them to talk with Him and be friends with Him so they not only know about God but learn to know Him experientially.
 
I pray that God will be personal and real to you and in the lives of each one in your family.
 
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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PASSIONATE PARENTING (CAN EVERY FATHER AND MOTHER PLEASE READ THIS POST?)

PassionateparentingI was reading this morning of Paul’s passionate desire for the new believers in Thessalonica. He said to them: “You know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children. We PLEADED with you, ENCOURAGED you, and URGED you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:11, 12 NLT).
 
How does God want fathers (and I believe that includes the mothers) to treat their children? He doesn’t want them to take their parenting casually or complacently. No, it is full on and full time—ardently, diligently, and passionately pleading and urging your children to walk worthy of the Lord.
 
This is not only feeding and clothing our children. This is not sending them off to be educated by a liberal and socialist agenda that seeks to destroy our children and turn them away from their faith, this not living our own lives and hoping our children will make it.
 
This is full on intentional parenting! This is taking time every morning and evening to read God’s Word and pray with your children. This is diligently teaching them God’s word and His ways to your children throughout the day, on the road, when getting up and going to bed (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).
 
We are living in an unprecedented hour when only six percent of Christians have a biblical worldview! This is the falling away of the church. And why? It comes back to the family. It comes back to the fathers and the mothers. We are the ones who are responsible to imbed God’s truths into the hearts and mouths of our children (Isaiah 59:21).
 
It’s time to wake up. It’s time to rise to a new level of parenting. We cannot take our children to church and hope for the best. We must night and day penetrate God’s laws into their hearts. Encouraging. Pleading. Imploring. Urging, Charging. And praying!
 
“Dear God and Father, we pray for a new spirit of parenting to arise in this land. Draw fathers and mothers back to their families. Give them a vision to passionately urge their children to prepare for the eternal world. Amen.”
 
This is the only thing that matters. We have been wondrously called into God’s kingdom. But also to glory! Nothing else is as important in this world than preparing ourselves for the glory that awaits us. Give your children a vision of the glory that awaits them if they will learn to live worthy of God in this world.
 
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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Nancy Campbell

JOY

chooseJoyWe learn to do this more and more as wives and mothers, don’t we?
 
Jesus first
Others second
Yourself last
 
Spells JOY.
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HOME IS...

HmFoundation...the foundation of the nation. The state of the homes will be the state of the nation. This is not a time for mothers to vacate their homes; it’s time to build stable and loving and godly homes.

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Nancy Campbell

TEN MINUTES A DAY

10mindayI heard Tucker Carlson share on YouTube, asking everyone in this nation to pray for at least 10 minutes a day for this nation. This comes from a secular news anchor, not a pastor. We should be hearing this clarion call from pastors all over the nation.
 
I believe it comes back to families. Family is the first institution God ordained and everything should begin in the family. Prayer should begin in the family. I believe it is the responsibility of every God-fearing family to pray for the nation. I know we are all grieved and concerned at the wickedness that is now openly displayed in this nation. How can we not cry out to God for His mercy and deliverance?
 
Can I encourage you, dear parents, to gather your family together night and morning to read God’s Word together and pray for this nation? Teach your children how to pray for the nation. God hears the prayers of children as much as adults. We not only do this every day in our home, but we also have two prayer meetings a week for the nation here on the Hilltop.
 
I wished I could have taken picture on Wednesday night at our prayer meeting at Sam and Serene’s home. Not only parents, but children and young people filled every space, even down to the little toddlers and babies going to sleep on the floor. Prayer is not just for adults. It’s for the whole family.
 
I am always challenged by this Scripture in Jeremiah 10:25: “Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name.” Wow, that’s powerful, isn’t it? If we as a family are not calling upon the name of the Lord, we may as well be a heathen family.
 
Just think of what could happen if every God-loving family began to intercede with their families each day for great repentance and revival in this nation. God has promised that He will hear our prayers. We all know 2 Chronicles 7:14 by heart, but are we doing it?
 
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and PRAY, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will HEAL THEIR LAND.”
 
Love and blessings from Nancy Campbell
 
 
Painting: “The Family at Prayer” by Haddon Sundblom
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Nancy Campbell

HOME SWEET HOME!

HmSweetHmAre you making it sweet? Have you said something very sweet to your husband today? Are you speaking sweetly to your children? You show the example for how your children will
speak. Build a sweet family, not a hedgehog family.
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MY PRAYER— SAVE ME FROM MYSELF!

thinebedoneSave Me, Lord Jesus, from living in the flesh,
For when I do, my life gets in a mess!
Help me, instead, to look to You,
And live in the Spirit all the day through.
 
Save me, Lord Jesus, from speaking in the flesh,
For when I do, everyone is depressed!
Touch my lips with fire from Your altar,
Pour Your Spirit upon me; I don’t want to falter.
 
Save me, Lord Jesus, from wanting my way,
I want to obey Your voice each moment of the day,
I want to trust You fully with every decision,
And rather than mine, I want your vision!
 
Help me, Lord Jesus, to give up my will,
Instead of demanding my own rights still!
Help me to yield my body and my mind,
To You, my Savior, so loving and kind.
 
Save me from groveling with selfishness,
I want to think like you think and to confess,
That your ways and thoughts are higher than mine
And with your thoughts I want to get into line!
 
I confess You are with me in each battle I face,
I don’t have to worry, for You fight in my place,
As long as I trust You with all of my heart,
I know Your presence will never depart.
 
Thank you, dear Lord Jesus, Amen.
 
 
Love from Nancy Campbell
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CLOTHES ARE TO COVER...

WantToCover

...not uncover!

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Nancy Campbell

A HOLY PLACE FOR GOD IN THIS WORLD

AHolyPlaceI am so challenged. Hebrews 9:1 (JBP) says: “Now the first Agreement had certain rules for the service of God, and it had a Sanctuary, A HOLY PLACE IN THIS WORLD FOR THE ETERNAL GOD.” This Scripture speaks of the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle in the wilderness. God dwelt in His Shekinah glory in the Holy of Holies. It is the holy place God chose to dwell on the earth. No man could enter this sacred place, except the High Priest once a year. And he dared not enter without carrying the blood.
 
However, when Jesus died and shed His own spotless blood, the thick curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place tore from top to bottom. It is now open. Now in the New Covenant God wants to dwell in our hearts. Our lives are now the Holy of Holies for Him to dwell.
 
Is this true? Unbelievable! But yes. 1 Corinthians 6:19 says: “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and You are not your own?” The word “temple” is “naos” which is the word for the “Holy of Holies.” The word “hieron” is the word for the temple, but “naos” refers to the Holy of Holies.
 
Can you get this? God has chosen you to be His residence, a Holy of Holies where He can dwell.
 
Because God is a holy God, He looks for holy people in which to dwell in this world. We as the people of God are to be a holy people. A set apart people. A sanctified people. A suitable vessel for God’s holiness. We cannot afford to be friends with the world. James 4:4: says “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
 
God is a holy God. The Bible states “holy” three times because once is not enough to describe His holiness (Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8). Therefore, God wants holy people. holy parents, holy homes, and holy children—yes, God wants us to raise “godly” children (Malachi 2:15). The word is “elohim,” one of God’s names. He wants children in His likeness filling this world. He wants holy families.
 
Let’s answer honestly: Are we a worldly family? Or are we a holy family?
 
Be encouraged today,
 
Nancy Campbell
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