Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

3. MEN WHO ARE EXEMPLARY

These are men who are worthy of being imitated. Jesus Christ was, and still is, forever the perfect man, who is infinitely more worthy to be followed and imitated than all other men.

The supreme reason why God has given us His Holy Spirit is that we should be conformed into the image of His son. Romans 8:29 says, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

The Apostle Paul was called by Christ to be an example to follow. Acts 9:15 says, "He is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel." Paul himself stated in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Be ye therefore followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."

In this desperate hour in our nation, we need Christian men who will not be content with the status quo. We need men who will refuse 21st century normality. The image displayed by the 1st century Christians is a far cry from His image revealed in our current century. It is almost barely recognizable.

To be continued.

Be encouraged. Colin

T'was the night before elections,
And all thru' the town,
Tempers were flaring
Emotions ran up and down.
I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap,
Had shut off the TV,
tired of political crap.
When all of a sudden,
There arose such a noise,
I peered out my window,
Saw Obama and his boys
They had come for my wallet,
They wanted my pay
To hand out to others
Who had not worked a day!
He snatched up my money,
And quick as a wink,
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink.
He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart.
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!
'On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, on Pelosi'
He screamed at the pairs!
They took off for his cause,
And as they flew out of sight,
I heard him laugh at a nation
Who wouldn't stand up and fight!
So I leave you to think on this one final note...
IF YOU DON'T WANT SOCIALISM GET OUT AND VOTE !!!!

Author unknown

2. MEN OF INTEGRITY continued.

When the leadership of a nation is corrupt, what hope has the nation of prospering and being blessed by God?

Psalm 9:17 tells us, "The wicked shall be cast into hell and all the nations that forget God." Forgetting God is wickedness for it replaces truth with lies. It does not fear God and casts aside His judgment on sin. When we forget God we elevate man.

Integrity is vital to the preservation of the nation, the city, the family, and the individual. If America is going to survive this time of gross darkness it will need a revival of old-fashioned, and yet as modern as tomorrow, integrity.

David's prayer in Psalm 25:21 is, "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me."

Can a man's word be trusted these days? Have we clean forgotten that the one who weighs the hearts of men on His scales of perfect justice observes our national and individual behavior?

"Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord" (Hebrews 10:30).

Be encouraged. Colin

2. MEN OF INTREGITY.

It is flat out wrong when men and women whom we elect to be our representatives and place in a position of prominence, power and responsibility because of what they have promised us to straight-out lie to us once elected. They think this is normal and is what is expected of them as a politician.

Enough is enough! This has to stop! No wonder a huge proportion of the country will not vote any more for they have been let down and discouraged by leaders who do not have integrity.

However, not voting does not shut the gate on corruption and lies. Instead, it opens it wider for the corrupt to lead and pass laws that will adversely affect our lives. We must use this privilege of voting to exercise our own responsibility of integrity to elect the most righteous of the candidates who hopefully will exercise the most integrity. We must vote out the most unrighteous when we have the power to do it.

Do we not lack integrity when we simply wash our hands of it like Pilot and do nothing to stop it? I think so.

Be encouraged. Colin

1. MEN WITH BACKBONE (continued).

I 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

1. MEN WITH BACKBONE.

Who can tolerate a spineless man?

This nation needs men with backbone? Men with backbone in their commitment to Christ and His course. Men who have stickability in the battle of life. Men who will not bend and bow in the face of opposition. No matter what the enemy may hurl at them, they will not quit.

As the saying goes, "Winners never quit, and quitters never win."

Men, as we face these coming elections, who will hold the course and fast and pray that the man who has the most character and who will resist the false, the lies, and the corruption in government will win?

We desperately need a president who will have the backbone to make a strong stand against all the compromises of spineless government and waste of taxpayer's dollars, a man who will root out all weakness wherever it may be found.

God's calling to the men of today's Christian church is the same today as it was in the past. We are either salt halting decay and corruption, or we are "good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men" (Matthew 5:13). We are the light scattering the darkness or light that is hidden and of no use.

It will take Christians with backbone to hold the course with fasting and prayer in order to elect the right president.

Will you be one?

Be encouraged. Colin

Men, I am very concerned about the coming elections. I feel they are perhaps the most important this nation has faced for many years. This present administration seems to me to be as hard-core communist as they could possibly be, and we haven't seen anything yet!

If this president gets another four years in office, I fear that the United States of America will be hard to recognize as the great country it has been. The next four years under our current president would be heavy duty dismantling of America as we have known it.

All the cities and states in this nation that have been following this extreme socialistic agenda are either broke already, or are going broke at an alarming rate. Many are looking to the federal government, or other cities and states, to bail them out. But, from where will this money come? They should not be bailed out by any means unless they change their liberal agenda.

It is highly possible that God would allow the present form of Obama government in order to bring a form of judgment on America for all of this nation's sins, which are many.

Men, we must call upon our God of mercy that He will have mercy upon us and deliver us at this crucial time.

To be continued.

Be encouraged. Colin

21. Make memories with your wife and family. Surprise her!

Men, life can become so routine, for ourselves, as well as our wife and family. In order to make memories we need to break with the normal routine.

Surprises make memories!

Take your wife for a pleasant walk somewhere. Fast walking is not conducive to fellowship; therefore remember to stroll hand in hand, or arm in arm--a nice walk in a park, around a lake, or in the woods (although I have to confess that it is hard to get my wife to take a stroll--she likes to walk fast!) Take time to sit down somewhere on a park bench to chat, or find a private spot in the woods to cuddle and kiss (my wife won't say No to that!).

Bring home flowers or something special she really likes to eat. Think of unexpected surprises which will generate pleasant memories.

Take time from your normal routine to spend a romantic night in a nice motel nearby. Include a romantic meal as well. It doesn't have to be far away, or expensive, but you will be creating lovely memories.

Family vacations are always create great memories. Go somewhere different. Try to be more adventurous. Be more creative. Start making plans today.

Be encouraged to think about your first surprise! Colin

20. Keep yourself physically clean, tidy, and in good shape.

Most men, when seeking to court a lady in view of marriage, will take stock of their appearance in order to make the most of what God has given them. They will shower, spruce up their hair, put on a clean shirt and pants, pull themselves up to their full height, and put on all the graces they can master. They do this to win the "love of their life" and hope she will accept him as her man.

It seems sad to me that once he has won her affections and the wedding is over that he begins to gradually let the standards of grace slip. In a way, he has given her a false impression. It was all just "a put on" to get her.

I believe that all husbands should clean up and tidy up their appearance for the evening meal. Your wife will notice that you still seek to honor her as your wife and lover. You should still count it as a privilege to sit with her and your family for the evening--looking, smelling, and acting your best, or at least close to your best.

As the years go by, do your best to keep yourself trim, not only for your own sake, but for the sake of your wife and family. Do not allow yourself to be scruffy and unkempt for the rest of your life.

Start today.

Be encouraged. Colin

19. Keep yourself spiritually and mentally clean.

Men, in order to encourage our wives to be homekeeping, homeschooling mothers, they need to have a husband through whom Christ's light shines as brightly as possible.

Just as all creation needs the light of the sun to survive, so does your wife and family. They need all forms of darkness cut off so they also will not only survive, but will actually thrive.

If the head of the home is infected by some form of darkness, be it pornography or some unclean habit of lust, it will have a negative impact upon the wife and family. Remember, you can't keep darkness to yourself alone. It will affect the atmosphere of your home, as well as all your family.

Light brings encouragement when the storms of darkness are raging around us.

The Scripture admonishes us to not walk in darkness (John 12:35; Romans 13:12; Ephesians 5:11; 1 John 1:5-7).

Jesus said, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14-16). In order to light up the world, we must start first with the world around us-- our wife and family.

Be encouraged. Colin

18. Bless your wife by taking the lead in conducting Family Devotions with the family.

Men, I truly believe that God will bless the homes where families gather together at appropriate daily times for reading the Scriptures, prayer, and singing and praising God. This will encourage your wife and family.

God is the source of true encouragement (1 Samuel 30:6). By reading the Scriptures, praying, and worshipping together you open up a pipeline of not only encouragement, but many other blessings to flow from God to your wife and family.

Your wife will feel deep within her spirit that her effort in being a home-keeping mother is indeed worthwhile. And she will respect you more for taking this spiritual stand.

Without daily devotions to God there comes a sense of barrenness and emptiness in the home.

Once you start setting aside this time for devotions each day, you will soon see and feel the fruit of it happening in the lives of all your family. They will begin to exude life in many different ways.

Be encouraged. Colin

17. Do not expect instant perfection from your wife and family.

Remember, maturity is not an instant thing. Maturity takes time and some are slower than others. Whilst it is true that we should aim for perfection (Matthew 5:48), yet it is possible to be mature in some areas of life and not in others.

A child may be perfect for his or her age, but if the child remains at the same level of maturity as time goes by, we have a problem. The same rule applies to each one of us.

Remember that your wife and family cannot be viewed as you would your office and workers over which you have charge. You cannot fire your wife and family if they do not measure up. They will mature better in an atmosphere of love, patience, and encouragement than in an atmosphere of tension and too much expectation of perfection.

Part of our own maturity is to know when to relax a little, loosen up, and not get so uptight when people around us do not measure up to our expectations.

Be encouraged. Colin

16. Seek to be more patient with your wife and family.

Patience is a virtue that not all men possess. Unfortunately, at times, I struggle with this godly virtue myself.

Impatience wants to settle the matter right here and now. Unfortunately, most times the problem is only made a hundred times worse. Patience contains wisdom for it uses time to its advantage to weight the facts carefully and consider all points thoroughly in order to solve the problem in the most righteous way possible.

I believe it is easier to make enemies than to make friends.

There will be times when your wife will need you to be more patient with her when she makes a blunder, forgets something you think important, burns the food, dents the car (!), or purchases the wrong thing. The last thing she needs is a red hot Mr. Perfect throwing down the gauntlet on her.

If she does need you to bring some form of correction, then don't skid the tires doing it!

Try to be more loving and patient, remembering that you are not without your own faults.

Be encouraged. Colin

15. Speak well of your wife. Eulogize her. Try not to let a day go by without embracing her, giving her an extended kiss (my wife loves an extended kiss!), and telling her how much you love and appreciate her.

My wife and I celebrate the Shabbat meal each Friday evening. One of the main reasons we do this is because it provides an opportunity to bless and eulogize each other. It is such a blessing to hear your spouse speak about you in a positive and appreciating way. Not only do we do this to each other as we sit down to the table before we eat, but we also bless each of the children and speak positively into their lives.

Always speak highly of your wife to your children, as well as your friends. Your wife will be much more contented and uplifted by the nice things you say to her each day.

The world around is full of negativity. We must not let this creep into our marriage. Put away, as much as possible, all grumbling and complaining around your wife and family. This type for communication does not edify or lift up anyone.

Ecclesiastes 9:9 says, "Live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest all the days of the life of thy vanity."

Be encouraged. Colin

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14. Make sure your wife feels free to be able to get out of the home from time to time to shop and visit friends, as long as it does not interfere with family meal times and homeschooling.

Of course, your wife has daily responsibilities to which she must attend. However, she must not be forced to feel that she is stuck in a prison with no way of escape.

Some women are victims to over-controlling husbands who take their spiritual headship too far. This causes wives to feel they can't do anything unless they have their husband's approval. They have little to none of the personal freedoms that a Christian woman should enjoy. In a sense, this husband tyranny.

A wise husband, who wants a happy marriage, will do what he can to make his wife feel free so she can serve her husband and family out of love, rather than servitude. The Proverbs 31 woman certainly seemed very free to make a lot of personal decisions. Her husband was not mean although obviously they were a wealthy family.

Those of us who struggle to make ends meet do have to be watchful on spending, and yet we would be wise to not let tight budgets turn us into becoming mean, unloving, and inconsiderate husbands.

Be encouraged. Colin

13. Make your wife's life easier by picking up after yourself.

Do not expect you wife to pick up after you all the time. I am sure that picking up after you was not in the marriage agreement. Unfortunately, some husbands expect their wives to run around behind them and pick up their dirty plates, cups, papers, and mess.

Men, when you get out of your dirty shirts, socks, and underwear, etc., pick them up and put them where they should go--in a bin or basket where your wife can easily take them to the laundry. Try to keep your part of the bedroom tidy. Hang up your clothes.

Help clear the table after the meal is ended. It will not do you any harm to sweep the floor. If your children are not yet old enough to wash the dishes, lend a hand.

Although it is your wife's primary responsibility to keep the home clean, tidy, and in order, do not ever let her feel that she is your slave or servant.

Make sure that your children do the chores they are assigned to do in order to make things easier for your wife. Do not overdo the excuse that you are too tired to help. Remember, she also gets tired and her work is never ended.

Be encouraged. Colin

12. Keep your home surroundings tidy.

I believe it is a good thing for a home-loving wife to have a husband who does his best to keep the exterior of his house clean, repaired, painted, and tidy. He should keep the lawns mowed and organize his family to assist in regular clean-ups. He does this primarily to bless his wife.

When God planted a garden for Adam and Eve, He called the garden "Eden" meaning "delight."

I am sure that Eve was blessed with absolutely beautiful surroundings. All Adam had to do was to tend to it and keep it beautiful and delightful.

I am not saying that men have to provide a mansion for their wife, but they should make the most of whatever they can afford for the sake of their wife. You wife should not have to live in a house surrounded by old junk cars, nothing put away tidily, heaps of mess everywhere, things not repaired, and the lawns unmowed.

God did not intend that Eve should live this way for He planted a garden that would delight the first stay-at-home mother.

Each husband should try his best to provide a delightful setting for his wife and family.

Love your wife by doing your best to keep your surroundings tidy.

Be encouraged. Colin

11. If it all possible, prepare a garden for her.

A little bit of manly work of digging and weeding will do a man no harm.

Read up on how to make a really good vegetable garden. It will keep you and your whole family more down to earth. It will save you lots of money. It will also provide you with lots of healthy nutritious organic food to feed your growing family.

Encourage your growing children to get involved and your wife will love to be involved with the planting. If you grow more than enough, you will be able to bless your friends. Or, your children could set up a roadside stall and sell the surplus.

If you have the right attitude about it, it can be a lot of fun.

I also like to grow beautiful flowers near my wife's office window so they can bring joy to her heart. Your wife at home will be greatly blessed if you provide some nice flower gardens for her, too. A woman needs flowers, and a husband needs a happy and contented wife. Flowers will help.

The first home was in the midst of a garden (Genesis 2:8).

Even in the difficult times of captivity God told His people to build houses and plant gardens and eat the fruit of them: (Jeremiah 29:5).

Be encouraged. Colin

10. Do your very best to provide well for your wife so she has sufficient money to do basic family shopping.

I know we are living in increasingly difficult financial times and many men are being laid off from their work. In times like these, many Christian stay-at-home mothers can be tempted to leave their homes to go back to Egypt (to the corporate world) just to make ends meet. In doing so, they sacrifice their family and their most needed motherhood. This would be a greater loss to the family than meeting payments on the family car, etc.

In times like these, we need to think outside of the box and do some creative thinking. Perhaps it is time to star up your own business.

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Be encouraged. Colin

9. Stand by your wife and support her whenever you discover any of the children have been giving their mother a hard time by deliberately being disrespectful.

When fathers come home they should enquire from their wives as to the behavior of their children towards their mother, as well as towards each other. Small infractions that are normal for young children should be overlooked. A quiet reminder and encouragement to behave better may be all that is required by father.

However, bad moods, insolence, disrespect, and rebellion towards their mother who is trying hard to do what is right for her children must be dealt with by the father when he gets home. He should give appropriate discipline, followed by loving words of encouragement. to do better. The child should be made to sincerely apologize whom apology is due.

If a father neglects to stand by his wife and support her efforts to teach and train his children, she will become discouraged and feel inadequate to fulfill her great and important work.

A homekeeping mother who is sacrificing her life for the sake of God and her family needs the full weight of her husband's support. Otherwise she will feel a victim, and in a sense, abused.

Be encouraged to be an encourager. Colin