Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Dear lovely mother . . .

 

I want to remind you today that as you mother, nurture, and train your children in your home that you are in the perfect will of God.

 

When God gives His children to you (for they are ultimately His children) to raise and train for Him, He doesn’t give them to you to give to someone else. He knows that no one else in the world will love them, ache for them, protect them, and give their lives for them like YOU, their own mother. Mothers and babies are bound together. Mothers and children are bound together until they reach the age of maturity and are ready to charge out on their own.

 

I want to also remind you that because you are doing the will of God that you will abide forever. Here is the promisein 1 John 2:15-17: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world, And THE WORLD PASSESTH AWAY and the lust thereof: but HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF GOD ABIDETH FOREVER.”

 

Sometimes you may feel like you would like to be out in the career world and doing important things. Let me tell you dear mother, that that kind of lifestyle is going to pass away as the Scripture says. You won’t take your career into Heaven with you. It will be left behind. Not a memory of it.

 

But you will take into Heaven your redeemed soul and the redeemed souls of your children who are eternal beings. Motherhood is an eternal career.

 

Rejoice that you are fulfilling God’s will. God sees your service which is ultimately unto Him. You may feel that you are hidden away, but as you are faithful to fulfil your calling, there is a day coming (and it comes too quickly) that from your home will come children who are polished and trained to bring God’s salvation and truth to the world, who will shine God’s light into the darkness, and who will overcome the evil.

 

You couldn’t be doing anything more powerful.

 

Love from Nancy Campbell

 

 

Painting: Thomas Little

When I was a young mother of two children I was given a stack of Above Rubies magazines. I gleaned messages from each magazine that were valuable to my life at the time. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would have a large family or homeschool.

 

The Lord saved my husband's soul when my third born son, Isaiah (God is Salvation) was born and God led us to surrender our family size to Him. We kept building our wall. My sixth child, Nehemiah was born in 2019, and that year God gave my husband the gift of sobriety.

 

Nehemiah, and our seventh born, Jeremiah, were such difficult babies. My husband decided we would have one last girl, and he would get a vasectomy. Baby eight was a delightful little boy, Elijah Zion.

 

In spring of 2024 we welcomed our beautiful little Zinniah Blossom—our one last girl and my husband scheduled his vasectomy. With the finality of sterility, my heart ached for the children we would never meet. I held the conviction to allow God to create with our bodies so near to my heart.

 

I was advised by people much wiser to submit to my husband. He was a good man, of sober mind, and who loved the Lord. I tried to make my heart obey but it would not, and I threw the tantrum of my life when the month of his surgery came around.

 

We fought. I tried to hurt him with my words as badly as his decision was hurting me. It created a huge chasm in our marriage. A few weeks after his vasectomy my husband started having side effects that completely destroyed our sex life. These symptoms worsened as the weeks went by.

 

We went to counseling to work on the issues that stirred up this trial. We prayed together every single night without fail. The Lord answered us with a unified direction for my husband to have a vasectomy reversal.

 

During this time my husband decided to donate to Above Rubies for the first time and shortly after the most recent magazine, #102, was mailed to me. I couldn't believe that the first time my husband donated to this ministry was to put an issue about vasectomy reversals into my hands. What a blessed comfort each and every story was to my soul.

 

At Christmas, just four months after his initial vasectomy he had a reversal. God allowed us to schedule at the perfect time for my husband's work with the surgeon we felt was the best choice. The entire process was such a deep valley with so much provision from God.

 

My husband is now healed of all the side effects that destroyed our marriage bed. He is so proud that we are expecting a little baby soul from our Lord this Thanksgiving, our 10th baby that I never thought I'd have the privilege to carry.

 

The Lord fought this battle for me in entirety. I didn't need to force my will on my husband. God's will cannot be thwarted. Now as we stand on this mountain, I cannot believe I'm writing this. We are better than before. Our love is covered in daily prayer, and we have surrendered our will to our Father God.

 

CHELSIE PANELLA

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin

 

Picture: Michael and Chelsie with the beautiful children God has given to them.

The home is the nest God provided for mothers to raise their children.

Currently we are reading through the book of Job in our Family Devotions. This morning we were encouraged by Job 23:12: “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips: I have esteemed the words of this mouth more than mmy necssary food.”

 

The CJB translation and most others say: “I TREASURE his words MORE THAN my daily food.” Can we truly say these words? I believe this challenge comes to us personally and collectively as a family. I love my time in God’s Word each morning before everyone else is up. I treasure this time. I treasure God’s words. This is the exact meaning of the Hebrew word, “to treasure, to hide, to store up.” It’s the same word as Psalm 119:11: “Thy word have I HID in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Read also Psalm 40:7, 8; Proverbs 2:1; 4:20, 21; 7:1; and Jeremiah 31:33.

 

I’m a great believer in the words of the old Chinese saint who used to say: “No Bible; no breakfast!” He wouldn’t feed his body until he fed his soul and spirit.

 

But it is not enough to treasure God’s word pesonally. I believe we must treasure it as a family. Of course, if we treasure it more than our daily food, we’ll make sure that we are gathering our family together each day to feed them spiritually. We feed our family at least three good physical meals a day and often snacks in between. Are we feeding the spiritual inner man of our children MORE THAN that?

 

I think the least we can do is to have our morning and evening Bible time together. Anything less than this shows very clearly that we do not treasure God’s living and eternal Word.

 

Are you a family that can say, “We treasure God’s Word more than our daily food”?

 

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Today I send my love and blessings and encouragement to all mothers—the mothers who are feeling overwhelmed with little ones running around your feet, mothers with one or two children, mothers with loads of children, mothers with middling children, mothers with grown children, mothers who are lonely and feel forgotten by their children, mothers who could not give birth physically but who have embraced children into their home, mothers who have no children but are nurturing the needy and hurting around them from the mothering anointing God has put within them. May you all be blessed and encouraged today from the Father above who designed motherhood.

 

God’s heart is for mothers. He so loved mothers that He planned for His own beloved Son, the Lord of Glory to come to this earth in the womb of a mother. Who could have ever thought of this but God? And it reveals the intensity and importance He places upon motherhood. Without mothers, and yes, without the womb of mothers, the world would soon come to a halt.

 

Not every mother has the privilege to give birth to a baby, but every woman is created with the anointing to nurture and to mother. It is innately within her by divine creation. This is why the eradication of the word “mother” is a slap in the face against women. God used the word “mother” before there was a mother on the earth (Genesis 2:24 and 3:20). It was His design and plan from before the foundation of the world!

 

Oh, mothers. You are not insignificant! You are part of God’s glorious plan. Don’t listen to the lies of the world. I want to remind you today that you are in the most elevated career God has given to women. God has placed mothering above every other career in the nation. Read the allegory in Ezekiel 19:10-14. In God’s eyes you are exalted! The highest of all. Above every other career.

 

God is looking in love on all mothers today, even those who have never given birth. Some of the greatest mothers in history have been women who have never given birth. We think of Gladys Aylward (the little English woman who rescued hundreds of children to safety in China), Mary Slessor, Amy Carmichael, Lillian Trasher (founder of the first orphanage in Egypt) and so many others who poured out of their mothering and nurturing hearts to minister to so many needy souls.

 

And we cannot forget the late Mother Theresa who mothered more children than any mother in the last century. She never gave birth to a child but lived in the anointing of motherhood.

 

Motherhood is far more than birthing a baby. It is the revelation of the mothering heart of God to the world. It is the fulfillment and glory of every female.

 

I think of my own sister who was not able to have children. She experienced a “long” pregnancy as she waited and prayed and agonized for a child and eventually, after years and much heartache, God blessed her with a precious little baby from China. My sister was a mother before she ever received Promise, her little Chinese baby. She mothered everything she could get her hands on. She mothered animals like her babies. But then God blessed her with her long-awaited promise, the greatest joy of her life. Promise has now grown into a beautiful young woman as Kate has mothered her through the years and will soon be married in a few months.

 

Dear precious and lovely mothers, whatever state or season of motherhood you are in, God has not forgotten you. His heart is for you and for you as a mother. Because He loves mothers and He loves motherhood. If you are on God’s side, you will love motherhood too. Don’t endure it. Love it and embrace it with all your heart and you will live in the glory God intends for you as a woman!

Never be ashamed of motherhood. It is precious to the heart of God.

 

Much love and blessings to you today,

 

Nancy Campbell

 

 

Beautiful painting: “Motherly Love” by Gabriele Baber

Some time back I did a podcast with Erin Harrison about the GLORY OF OUR KITCHENS. On this podcast we talked about how a husband wants nothing more than “A warm welcome, a warm meal on the table, and a warm bed (meaning more than an electric blanket). It was one of the most popular podcasts on LIFE TO THE FULL w/ Nancy Campbell

 

However, after doing the podcast, I realized I needed to notch it up further and make it a . . .

 

HOT AND SPICY WELCOME

Don’t just yell Hi from the kitchen when your husband comes home. Get up from what you are doing. Go to the door or walk toward your husband and welcome him with open arms and a loving and lingering kiss. Tell him how happy you are to see him. A warm welcome is nice, but a hot and spicy welcome is even nicer!

 

HOT AND SPICY MEAL

Make a lovely nutritious meal for your husband and family but make it spicy and full of flavor too. Bland food is boring. Spice up your food with herbs and spices and if you are up to it, hot peppers too. Basic, wholesome food changes from satisfying to scrumptious when you make it flavorful. God gave us tastebuds. Tantalize those tastebuds. Try out new things.

 

And spice up your family mealtimes with good conversation. Mealtimes can be terribly boring if there is no purposeful conversation. As I raised our children, I found that it was just as important to think about what we would talk about as what I would cook for the meal. Think of a subject you and your husband can bring to the table to discuss—political, biblical, historical, or geographical. Ask questions and get each one in the family to share their thoughts.

 

HOT AND SPICY BED

Always be ready to love your husband passionately. Go to bed together. At the same time as your husband. Don’t stay up doing your own thing while he lies in bed alone! Forget being passive and pour out your hot spicy love on him. He is waiting for it. As you give to him, you will be blessed beyond measure. Proverbs 5:19 tells us that the wife is to “satisfy” and “ravish” her husband. Yes, that’s King James language. Other translations say “captivate, infatuate, intoxicate, exhilarate, and rapture.” You can’t get off the hook, ladies. It’s Bible language!

 

Love from Nancy Campbell

 

Link for WE LOVE OUR KITCHENS, Part 3.

More thoughts about nursing babies. The liberals don’t only want to get rid of the word “mother.” They don’t like the word “breastfeeding.” Why can’t they embrace the creation of the female? It is not only sad but scary that so many people are so deceived by the transgender propaganda that they want to eliminate anything that reveals the true characteristics of male or female.

 

There is now a movement in progressive circles to refer to “breastfeeding” as “chestfeeding.” Have you ever heard of anything so preposterous? Are they scared of the female anatomy?

 

I will not give in to such ridiculous nonsense. Men have chests and women have breasts. And they were given to us by divine creation. The Bible speaks of the “BLESSINGS of the breasts, and of the womb” (Genesis 49:25). And please notice that the word is not a singular blessing, but plural blessings! God gives multiple blessings to the baby and the mother when during breastfeeding.

 

Breastfeeding is God’s plan. One of God’s names reveals Him as the Breasted One, the nurturing, comforting, and protecting God, the One who pours out His love and mercy to us. God is called Almighty, “El Shaddai” in Hebrew. The root word of Shaddai is “shad” which literally means “the breast.” God is EL Shaddai; we are little “shads.”

 

The fulness of this word is the “God who is Enough.” Just as the breast is enough to physically and emotionally minister to our baby’s needs, so God is Enough to minister to our needs.

 

God gives physical breasts to women to feed and nourish life. However, He also puts this maternal anointing in each of His female creation to nurture, feed, and protect. It is inherently within every female.

 

God’s plans are so wonderful.

 

Blessings to you today,

 

Nancy Campbell

Further thoughts to my post yesterday about being a nursing mother.

To be a suckling mother is a beautiful blessing. Although every female is born with a nurturing anointing, we receive a double portion when we are breastfeeding. God gives the hormones of oxytocin and prolactin to the nursing mother which release even greater motherly hormones to her. The more she nurses her baby, the more motherly she becomes.

 

Oxytocin is released by the pituitary gland and is the hormone that stimulates the mother’s let-down or milk-ejection reflex. This incredible molecule of motherly love is called by many other different names:

 

The stress relieving hormone,

The calming hormone, even reducing blood pressure, cortisol levels, fear, anxiety, and staving off psychological as well as physiological problems,

The life hormone,

The love hormone,

The cuddle hormone,

The bonding hormone,

The empathy hormone,

The trust hormone, and even

The bliss hormone!

 

Who wouldn’t want to have this hormone? Who wouldn’t want to get as much of it as she can? It’s a great way to live instead of being filled with anxiety and stress. And this is the blessing God gives to every nursing mother. The secret: keep nursing your baby as long as you can! Don’t wean your baby before he or she is ready. Remember, you are a suckling mother.

 

Prolactin is another wonderful hormone. It’s a very strong protective hormone. They have done studies to find that when they inject this hormone into a rooster it becomes “clucky” and begins to mother the chickens. A female animal nursing her young in the wild will fight to death any other animal that comes near her young.

 

Every time a mother puts her baby to the breast, she releases prolactin which causes her to become more motherly. And also very protective of her baby. This is why it is painful for a nursing mother to leave her baby. She is tied to her baby. And this is how God intends it.

 

Many scientific studies also reveal that lengthy nursing of babies is a deterrent to breast cancer and other female cancers. And this is apart from all the blessings to the baby.

 

O yes, Isaiah 66:11 calls it “glory.” God’s way is always the best way.

 

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

 

Painting: A Woman Nursing a Child, c.1894 | Pierre-Auguste Renoir | Fine Art Painting Reproduction

Let’s get to the nitty gritty. Did you know that the Bible portrays the female as a su.ckling mother? We have gotten so far away from truth in our modern and humanistic society that we hardly know what is normal anymore.

 

In Matthew 19 we read about how the Pharisees came to Jesus to ask him about divorce. He answered them with these words: “Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female . . .”

 

When Jesus spoke the word “female,” He used the word thelus, a different word that is usually used in the New Testament. It comes from the root word thele meaning “the female breast, a woman with nursing breasts, one who gives su.ck.” One word study states “glorifying God by reflecting the ‘other wonderful half’ of the divine image.”

 

In other words, Jesus described the female as a “su.ckling mother.” “This is how God made them in the beginning” He reminded them. And God has not yet made a new model! It is the true picture of a woman, created with a womb to nurture life and breasts to nourish that life. When we breastfeed, we embrace our womanhood the way God intricately and wondrously designed our bodies.

 

I know that this description would be offensive to some women today. Isn’t that sad that women have turned away from the way they were created? We see the end result of this in Romans 1:26 where this same Greek word is used: “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women (thelus) did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

 

Even the animal kingdom does not turn away from its natural function to nurse and nourish its young. Lamentations 4:3 says: “Even jackals offer their breasts to nurse their young, but my people, have become heartless like ostriches in the desert.”

 

God wants us to rise into the glory of our femaleness. To embrace our femininity. To be proud of the word mother. To encourage breastfeeding mothers. To be who God created us to be.

 

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

 

 

Painting: Maternidad Óleo sobre lienzo Autor: Elin Danielson Gambogi (1861 - 1919) Fecha: 1893

God always finishes what He begins. He never leaves anything half completed. And that includes our lives. Don’t you love the promise in Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

 

The word “perform” is the word Greek word “epiteleo” and it means “to finish, to complete, to end.” As we yield ourselves to the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, He will keep working in us to the very end. He doesn’t want us to come limping over the finishing tape but leaping and bounding. The Message Bible says that He will bring our lives to “a flourishing finish.” I love that.

 

Peter encourages the believers to keep on adding godly attributes to their faith so they will have an “abundant” entrance into the everlasting kingdom (2 Peter 1:11). How do you want to go into the eternal kingdom? Abundantly? Triumphantly? Grandly? A flourishing finish? That’s what I want, don’t you?

 

Life on this earth is not always easy. We face challenges and difficulties. You may be concerned about your marriage. You may be grieving over one of your children. Dear wife and mother, THE END IS NOT YET! Remember that. God is still working. Don’t give up. Keep praying. Keep trusting in God. Keep believing and thanking God for this promise. Philippians 1:6 promises that God is working until the very end.

 

Keep plodding on as we look for our heavenly city. We live this life in preparation for the eternal kingdom which is the REAL world. Keep praying this promise over your own life and the lives of your family members.

 

Be encouraged and blessed, today,

Nancy Campbell

"There are two days in the week about which and upon which I never worry—yesterday and Tomorrow!"

~Robert Jones Burdette.

(Honoring Parents)

 

Not all is running smoothly. Within twelve months my youngest daughter has been in her second car accident. Another vehicle written off! This time she wasn’t alone. She had her two youngest daughters with her. Praise God, no bones broken this time. She has plenty of bruises which show that her life was threatened, but God in His mercy delivered them from the hand of the fowler.

 

How grateful I am that I’m called to keep watch. Each day I gather them all under the banner of His love, sprinkle the blood, and claim them for His service. I take Communion remembering the Covenant I have with Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour.

 

I must not allow myself to be distracted from my mission. There are so many needs and as the Holy Spirit leads me I pray concerning them. But our son is the main focus for now. Hearing that your son is dying physically is not normal. We are supposed to go before him surely? What is causing this prognosis? What gives Satan the right to attack him so?

 

“He couldn’t touch your son if your son was honouring you,” the Holy Spirit speaks to my heart.

 

From the beginning, the Scriptures on honouring your parents have come to mind, but I do not desire to judge him, but rather, I seek the cause of this dilemma. Obviously, it’s the devil, but that is too broad. I’m seeking the “cause” that is manifesting this “effect.” I want to hit it on the head, like Jael hammered the peg into Sisera’s temple (Judges 4: 17-22). I want the cause destroyed, struck down dead!

 

I feel to pray for every male in my immediate family. There are 25 of them. Every man male giving and receiving honour according to his position. It is an inspirational time.

 

Yesterday and today, right from the first I sensed a change. The Holy Spirit’s presence is heavier/stronger. I feel compelled to pray concerning our son’s lack of honour towards us. I read Exodus 20:12 that honouring us would give him long days. Deuteronomy 5:16 would prolong his days. Matthew 15:4 and 19:19 are scary reading. I am deeply concerned for his soul.

 

Perhaps, like many a mother I am tempted to tell God, “Don’t worry about him honouring us. We love him so much. Please don’t invoke this punishment upon him.” But I sense this is more serious than I have ever realized.

 

“Anyway, what is so special about me/us that You demand that we be honoured by our children? Why is it so serious that this is not only Old Testament teaching, but Jesus taught this with even greater emphasis? Why does it entail an early death if not addressed?” I ask fervently.

 

I search my heart for this lack in my own life and in my husband’s life and cannot detect anything, at least not so far. We honour God for He is our Heavenly Father, the Giver of Life. Made in His image we also are givers of life. I struggle with the fullness of this emerging revelation.

 

I share these testimonies of Christ at work in me to overcome the enemy.

 

I look forward to tomorrow’s FOURTH WATCH.

 

Many blessings from VAL STARES

Gold Coast, QLD Australia

Val is the Director of Above Rubies in Australia and has been working with me in this ministry since it began in September 1977.

 

REMINDER:

Australia readers, are you getting the Above Rubies magazine which will be such an inspiration to you as a wife and mother? If not, write to val at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and she’ll be happy to send it to you.

 

Picture: Val with some of her beautiful 26 GREATgrandchildren. Val and I have a competition (just a joke!), but she hasn’t quite caught up to us yet. We currently have 33 GREATgrandchildren with four more who will be born in the next two to four weeks. Then we’ll have 37! God is so good. It’s amazing to think that Val and I began working together when our children were young and now we are being blessed with all these wonderful GREATgrandchildren!

Thanks to God for yesterdays’ answered prayers (read Part 2 if you missed it).

Thank you, Lord for keeping me awake! Although the physical chain breaking looked bad, spiritually, I rejoiced that the chain that is binding my son is now broken.

 

The load was too heavy for us. We needed more power to break free. MORE help was needed and although it was readily given it wasn’t enough for this task. Scriptures, encouragement, offers to pray etc., were readily offered by strong Christians but it seems not enough for this breakthrough. To my knowledge our son is still stuck and isolated.

 

The weaker vessel with less power when added to the task worked. I am reminded of the Scripture: “When I am weak then I am strong.” We overcome as a body, strong and weak members working together as one with one purpose and one goal.

 

The light we had was insufficient. We need more revelation light and people who are light bearers. At our family Shabbat we light three candles. One for Father God who created the light. One for Yeshua who became the light of the world while He was in it. One for Holy Spirit who was sent to keep Jesus’ light burning, because He didn’t want us living in darkness again. This light is present in us.

 

Watchmen are those who will watch and pray and warn of the dangers.

 

Expectation and anticipation heightened as we wait for that call, He’s coming, He’s coming, He’s here . . .!

 

Don’t leave your post. I have several posts. The post most prevalent at the moment is to keep watch for my son, my family, the nation and Open Heaven Ministries Intl and the Ecclesia.

 

Everything we needed was here. We lacked nothing. It’s the same with the Holy Spirit, He has given us everything we need for life and godliness (1 Peter 1:3). Chain, Rope, vehicles, drivers, light and light bearer, willing hearts and hands, watchman praying, Father, Son, Holy Spirit and angels.

 

It took time, wisdom, prayer and action. Prayer WAS ANSWERED. Praise be to God our Saviour.

 

LET’S UNSTUCK AUSTRALIA

 

I am asking for those of you who feel you are weak, too busy, too tired, whatever, to consider helping. Australia is stuck. Australia needs pulling out of her many sins. The chain is breaking but she’s still stuck. We need more strength.

 

We need your input, no matter how small, to add weight to our petition. This is not a lone fight for victory. This is an involvement, a togetherness, shared weight of responsibility a body working together.

 

Will you join us? ne day a week is better than none. Half an hour is better than none. God is desires to add strength to us so we can become free, unstuck, personally, spiritually, and nationally. All are needed. Now is the time.

 

Our elections are this Saturday, 3rd May. Make sure you vote. Although a minority I’ll be voting for FAMILY FIRST because I believe in their convictions.

 

VAL STARES,

Gold Coast, QLD Australia

 

Val is the Director of Above Rubies in Australia and has been working with me in this ministry since I began in September 1977.

 

Australia readers, are you getting the ABOVE RUBIES MAGAZINE which will be such an inspiration to you as a mother and wife? If not, write to Val at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and she’ll be so happy to send it to you.

On waking I glanced at the clock. Oh no, I’m late for my 3.00 am watch. I jumped out of bed speaking in my heavenly language before my feet hit the floor.

 

“Lord why did You not wake me?” No point wasting precious time on this thought. My son’s life is at stake so with the time left I determined to focus on my mission.

 

I skipped the usual cup of herbal tea and pulled the curtains in preparation of welcoming in the new day which has become my new habit. I settled into fellowship with Jesus. A quick read of God’s Holy Word to bring everything into perspective revealed and confirmed that He is the Vine, and I am one of His branches. I relax. I am at my post. Even though I’m a bit late I’m here to keep watch. Most times I am wide awake. This morning however, I have a sense I am in danger of nodding off. A quick prayer to my Lord to fully wake me up and keep me alert is definitely in order.

 

As we fellowshipped, we were interrupted by Matt who was on his way to work. I heard him start his ute and rev it to go. However, he wasn’t going anywhere. He was stuck! He tried to get free a few times and then came to my door and shared this news with me, saying he was going to wake Mark (my son-in-law) to give him a pull. I continued in prayer adding the need to have this truck unstuck!

 

Mark hitched his four-wheel drive to the truck. They are revving and I’m praying, still at my post. The truck is still stuck! The chain broke. Now what? I begin thinking about the lack of power in my prayer. I left my post and went out to the scene. What a surprise. It wasn’t the ute that was stuck. It was Matt’s 4-ton truck fully loaded with the day’s merchandise which they were busy unloading to lighten the load. Not only that, but they also had to pull at an angle because my house was in the path of a straight pull. I apologised for my inability to help but shared that I was praying.

 

“Oh, yes please,” said Matt. “Please pray.” I commanded that truck to come unstuck and be released. Matt pipes up, “Oh, and while you’re praying can hold the light?” The light was on his phone. “This light isn’t enough and besides it will run your battery flat.”

 

“I’ll fetch Granddad’s big torch,” I told him.

 

Granddad was awake wondering what all the noise was about, so he took the light, and I went back to my post. The men fetched a big strong rope to replace the broken chain and although it didn’t break, the truck did not budge. More power was needed so they discarded the four-wheel for grandson’s 6-cylinder ute. As powerful as it is, it did not budge the truck.

 

They decided more power should be added to the ute, so they fetched the 4-wheeler and roped it to the ute which was tied to the truck. I stayed at my post. I was not tempted to watch them, but I could not help but hear them. The more noise they made the louder I prayed.

 

Granddad had the light, and he was positioned to give signals in accordance with the need. “STOP,” he cried, the ute is becoming stuck now as it tries to dig in. Put more power revs in the first vehicle.” So, the least powerful vehicle was added to the stronger vehicle. YES!

 

UNSTUCK TRUCK! PRAYER ANSWERED! Willing hands helped with the reload and I thanked God and rejoiced.

 

VAL STARES,

Gold Coast, QLD Australia

 

Val is the Director of Above Rubies in Australia and has been working with me in this ministry since I began in September 1977.

 

Picture: Some of Val’s 26 greatgrandchildren.

I received information that intimated our son is dying. My heart’s cry is, “Lord what do you want me to do?” The situation is made difficult, but not hopeless, because he has not seen or spoken to us for over a year. All attempts at communication have so far failed. Phone calls, emails, text messages even an unexpected visit from us, though accepted at that moment didn’t overflow to further communication. So how can we reach our son at his time of great need?

 

God began to work in my heart. I felt impressed to keep the FOURTH WATCH for him from 3.00 am to 6.00 am each morning. I wondered why the Lord called me to this fourth watch. This was the time when Jesus walked on the water. What was Jesus doing out there surfing in the early hours of the morning when it was still dark? In the middle of nowhere with no-one to see Him it would seem. Surely by His own confession:

 

“I do nothing of myself,” Jesus said in John 8:28.

 

“I always do the things that please Him (speaking of His Father) (John 8:29).

 

“The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do” (John 5:19).

 

When did Jesus walk on water? Perhaps I was looking at the wrong aspect. The fact He was there when His disciples were seems more to the point. Because it was the Father’s will to comfort those who found themselves in difficult situations, unable to see the light, or have enough strength of their own to overcome.

 

He would have passed them by, but they cried out. The fourth watch are the final hours of darkness before the light penetrates. It is the time of God’s awesome glory displayed as the new day dawns and the sun rises. Each sunrise is different. Each day is loaded with benefits. His mercies are new each morning. How my heart sings with praise, hope, and love.

 

One morning as I rose to keep watch both feet slipped out beneath me at the same time. With Bible, pen, and glasses etc. in my hands I fell heavily, banging my head on the bench corner and falling on my elbow, hip, and back.

 

Unbeknown to me Cyclone Alfred had caused a leak which had pooled in my path and because it was dark through the power cut, I had no warning. As I lay there, I remembered something in Daniel which I had read recently about standing on your feet, although it was a while before I got to it. Praise God, nothing was broken, and I had no pain, just a sore head, elbow, and hip. Our grandson came and helped me stand on my feet.

 

I personalised Daniel 10:10. He said to me: “Val, you are a woman treasured by God. Understand the words that I’m saying to you. Stand on your feet, for I have now been sent to you. After he said this, I stood trembling” (well, I was shaken by the fall)!

 

“Don’t be afraid, Val,” He said to me “For from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard.”

 

God continued to give me revelation. One night I had a dream. A man knocked on my door and asked to see the man of the house. I told him he was no longer there. In fact, he had died. He appeared dejected so I asked him why he wanted to see him. “Well, when I was a little boy feeling very forlorn one day, this man picked me up, held me close, and whispered in my ear; “When you grow up and need a job come and see me.” So, I have come to see about that job.

 

I asked him what his name was, and he said Michael. “Well Michael,” I told him. “I have a job for you. I want you to go and see my son Brett and when you get through to him, tell him that God and we, his parents, love him and want to help him.”

 

Upon waking and meditating on the dream, I asked the Lord what it meant. I had this tingly feeling that it sounded much like this same story in Daniel. Michael, a messenger had come to help me. I had been asking Father God for a messenger to get through to our son Brett, that he be not hindered by lies or walls etc., or stopped by any authority that is not Yahweh’s. I prayed that the messenger would bring Brett truth, healing, life, joy, hope, love, and forgiveness. I feel the messenger is an angelic being.

 

I looked up the meaning of the name Michael. In Hebrew it means “Who is like God.” This dream was like a visit from Father God Himself.

 

At this time nothing has changed regarding the situation that I know of, but I have changed. There is no fear. No regret. No sense of hopelessness. I am encouraged by Jesus’ words in John 5:17: “My Father is working, and I (Yeshua) am working also.” And I am also a co-worker in Christ!

 

I laboured and gave birth to my son once. I travail and labour in birth for him now. Claiming Galatians 4:19 I labour until Christ be fully formed in my son.

 

VAL STARES,

Gold Coast, QLD Australia

 

Val is the Director of Above Rubies in Australia and has been working with me in this ministry since I began in September 1977 in New Zealand, nearly 48 years ago. I call her Valiant, Victorious Val! I can’t imagine how many crowns she is going to receive for her faithful service.

 

Val and her husband Bill are now waiting for their 36th GREAT grandchild. Isn’t that wonderful? Val says: “How great is my God! God is giving us another treasure. How I love Him and every precious soul. I am a builder A builder of the nation!” Part 2 comes tomorrow.

 

Picture: Val and Bill with some of the 36 greatgrandchildren.