GOD IS IN YOUR KITCHEN WITH YOU RIGHT NOW!

I think one of the greatest Scriptures in the Bible (how can there be a "greatest" when they are all great?) is "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). But, do we believe it?

When you acknowledge that Christ is living His life in you, it changes every moment and every circumstance. You know that because He is in you He is right with you in your kitchen. Yes, right now! He is with you when everything that is happening at once and even overwhelming you. Remember, nothing gets Christ upset! He can handle every situation--and He lives in you!

I love the quote of Brother Lawrence, "The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer and in the noise and clutter of my kitchen while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon by knees at the blessed sacrament."

Love from Nancy

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THE FRAMEWORK OF YOUR LIFE

One of the Scriptures my husband read at Family Devotions Saturday morning was Psalm 119:97, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day." Colin loves to ask questions at Family Devotions and asked, "How can we meditate in the Word all the day long?" At first, no one had a good answer as to how we could do this in the midst of a busy day with so many things to do. God wants us to work hard six days a week. He wants us to build houses, plant gardens and tend to them, have children and care for them, and "subdue and take dominion" (Jeremiah 29:4-6; Genesis 1:28). That's a lot of work! How can you meditate while you are doing all this?

Serene and the children were with us and she answered, "By sowing it into the framework of our lives." I thought that was a wonderful answer. God's ways should be sown into every part of our lives. God does not want the spiritual separated from the practical. It is all one together. As we imbibe God's principles, we'll know how He wants us to act in every practical detail of our lives. It will be part of our lives all day long.

Sow God's Word into your own heart. Sow it into the minds and hearts of your children. This is your top priority. Unless they have God's Word as the foundation and framework of their lives, they will build on a shaky and deceptive foundation.

Love from Nancy Campbell


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HOW DO WE GET WISDOM?

I am sure you are like me. I long to hear from God and understand what He is saying. I long for wisdom. I long for knowledge. And I want to be instructed (Proverbs 1:2-3).

However, I notice that the word "instruction" is usually the Hebrew word, "muwcar" which means "chastisement, reproof, warning, restraint, rebuke." Oh my. We don't like that, do we? And yet I find that we only grow in wisdom and understanding as we are open to reproof. We only mature in the knowledge of God as we have a soft and tender heart to the Holy Spirit as He speaks to us through HIs Word, and yes, sometimes through our husband, and other people, too!

It goes against our flesh to receive rebuke and counsel, but this is the only way we mature (Hebrews 12:9-11).

As we imbibe this attitude toward God and to others, our children also learn that this is the lifestyle you live to become mature. This is the attitude you need if you want discernment in this society of deception.

Love from Nancy Campbell

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KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE GOAL

Yesterday I posted 22 attitudes that God wants us to have toward our great role of mothering. Don't forget to read them if you didn't get to do it yesterday. A number of mothers printed out these attitudes to pin up on their fridge. I think this is a good idea, because we really need to take one attitude each day and work on it. It's just about too much to take them in all at once, don't you think?

God is so great. He shows the way He wants us to mother, and when we do it His way, we reap the blessings of peace and joy in our life and in our home. When we do it our own way, and especially giving in to our own moods and feelings, we reap discontent and misery.

However, not only do we reap the blessings in our home now, but we have an eternal reward. Be encouraged by these Scriptures today:

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize. So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Corinthians 9:24 and Philippians 2:12-14). Work in your home with your eye on the finishing line! The words "may obtain" mean "to seize, to lay hold of."

"Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord" 1 Corinthians 15:58). Mothering is never in vain. It is an eternal career and lasts forever.

"And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not" (Galatians 6:9).

"Whatsoever good thing (and mothering is a good thing) any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:8)

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward" (Colossians 3:23-24). You may not receive any reward from man, but you will receive it from the Lord!

Don't give up in the race of mothering. Keep your eye on the goal.

Love from Nancy

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HOW ARE YOU MOTHERING TODAY?

I wrote about serving the Lord in motherhood. How does God want us to do this? The Bible tells us exactly.

Joyfully! (Deuteronomy 28:47). Wipe off the frown. Put a smile on your face. Don't worry about whether you feel like it or not. Smile and your attitude will change.

Without being sidetracked! (Nehemiah 6:3).

Humbly! (Matthew 20:26-28).

Faithfully! (Matthew 25:21, 23).

Without expecting anything in return! (Luke 7:7-10).

Relying on God! (John 14:4-5; Philippians 4:13).

Willingly! (Proverbs 31:13). No more excuses!

With all our might! (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

With zeal! (John 2:17). Forget moping around the house. Forget apathy. You are involved in the greatest career in the nation. You are influencing this nation and generations to come. Do it with zeal.

Not giving up! (Acts 20:24; 2 Timothy 4:7).

Fervently! (Romans 12:11).

Aboundingly! (1 Corinthians 15:58). To "abound" in the work of the Lord is the Greek word, "perisseuo" and actually means "to be excessive, over the top, more than is necessary, enough and to spare." Are you just doing what you have to do to get through the day? Or, are you mothering "over the top"? What a fun way to live! What a great way to serve the Lord as you mother each day. When you change a diaper, laugh and smile at your baby. When you are doing mundane tasks, do them with exuberance. When you are preparing a meal, make it a beautiful meal to bless your family.

For the glory of God! (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Lovingly! (Galatians 5:13).

Without Seeking Recognition! (Ephesians 6:6).

Without Grumbling! (Philippians 2:14-15).

Heartily! (Colossians 3:23). The word "heartily" actually means "soul" (psuche). That means we are to not only do our mothering tasks physically, just because we have to do them, but to put our whole heart and soul into them.

In the name of the Lord Jesus! (Colossians 3:17). As we do each task in the name of Jesus, it becomes a sacred task.

With thankfulness! (Colossians 3:17). No more groaning and complaining. We thank and praise the Lord instead.

As to the Lord, and not unto men! (Colossians 3:23). Every big or little task, we do it unto the Lord. Doesn't this attitude change everything?

In the fear of the Lord! (Hebrews 12:28b; Psalm 2:11).

What attitude spoke to you today?

Love from Nancy


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Above Rubies Address

AboveRubies
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Franklin, TN 37068-1687

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