Dear lovely ladies,
How are you making out? I am writing a few thoughts again today about the current virus. I am surprised that so many people are living in a state of fear. I guess it is hard to resist fear when we are being blasted with negatives every minute from the media. Sometimes it’s better not to listen. But does God want us to live in fear? No. He does not give us the spirit of fear. He wants us to live in faith.
Of course I know that COVID-19 is real. But we must not allow ourselves to be overcome with fear. Fear is a powerful thing. Job confessed “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me” (Job 3:2). These are not light words. Fear can often produce the very thing you fear.
Let’s look at it more diligently: “The THING (pachad, 6342 – alarm, dread, fear) which I GREATLY FEARED (pachad, 6343) is come upon me.” His fears which were nor reality became a reality.
Look up Proverbs 3:25: “Be not afraid of sudden fear.” These words are the opposite to Job 3:25.
We must encourage ourselves to live in faith. Faith in our God is bigger than this virus. Faith to believe that God will keep us in His care. Faith to trust Him as our Savior, our Healer, our Deliverer, and our Strong Tower.
Proverbs 18:10 “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.”
I think back to a couple of incidents when raising my children. Back in those days there were no vaccinations for every childhood disease that came along. When I was a child, we all got the measles, the chicken pox, and mumps, etc. It would go through the family and then we all be fine, set for life. The same happened with my children. They all got each of the diseases as it came around the neighborhood or city. We got through it and once again they were set for life.
I remember one time I heard that the measles (or one of them was going around) and I got into a state of fear (I think I may have been pregnant, and fear came upon me!). Because I got into this state of fear, what I feared came upon me, and all the children came down with “the dreaded lurgi.”
Another time, I truly don’t know how it happened, but I didn’t even know this particular epidemic was going around. I found out later that the children of all the families around had been sick. Because I didn’t know, I didn’t fear and merrily went about my daily life. And not one of the children came down with the epidemic.
I don’t think it was only coincidence. I believe that fear is a powerful thing. Yesterday the president informed us that one out of every 10 people who are tested for the corona virus is positive. That’s nine out of ten people who are fine but are obviously fearful and therefore being tested. That unnecessary testing can waste time and money when there are so many more urgent cas
Are you reading Psalm 91 as a family each day? A little reminder! 
How often does the name of Jesus fall from your lips during the day? How often do your children utter the name of Jesus?
We are encouraged to be Sarah's daughters! And how do we do this? By not giving in to fear! Every time you are tempted to fear about the current situation of COVID-19 or anything that sparks fear in your life, speak these words out loud: SARAH'S DAUGHTERS DON'T PANIC! You don't have to fear when God is on your side!
I could write about many things today, but perhaps I should write my thoughts about COVID-19. Although, of course, if you are like me, you’d like to hear about something else. It seems we don’t here anything else from the media at the moment.
We all know that God looks upon the heart and it is our heart attitude that counts. However, I do believe that we reveal outwardly what is in our hearts. I believe that when we come to worship the Lord with God’s people that we should dress appropriately. What does this Scripture say? “In holy attire.” We should dress in a way that is glorifying to God and that is aligned with holiness. God wanted the priests to be clothed in ”holy garments” and “for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2). And guess what? You have been made a king and priest into God! 
Mother, never underestimate the power and influence of your high calling of motherhood. The world may disdain your role but God holds it in high esteem. Even the devil knows the power of motherhood. That’s why he tries to woo mothers out of the home. He wants the mothers out of the way so he can get his hands upon the children. Don’t ever be intimidated by the world or the devil! 
Someone asked me recently, “How do I respond to folk who think large families are a drain on the environment?”
Who or what gets the most attention in your home?
What are you breathing today? Of course you breathe to keep alive, but what else are you breathing? Threatenings to your children? Or love and kindness and truth?
Do you, like me, long for the “restoration of all things,” the time when God will subdue all wickedness and bring everything, everyone, and all nations into subjection to Christ? Or perhaps you are longing for restoration of situations that are nearer to hand. You have relationships in your family and extended family that need restoring. You need marriage restoration.
We constantly hear about de-cluttering our homes, but have you thought about de-cluttering your shopping cart? It's amazing how much we can eliminate and save money at the same time.
Dear mother, God has commissioned you to be part of a great building program, the building and strengthening of your family. There is no greater building program in the nation. Building each individual family builds the nation and continuing generations.
Isn’t it nice when everything is peaceful and lovely? We would rather not be in a battle, would we? But did you know that God leads us into battles? If you are facing a battle right now, maybe it is God who has you the battle.
Mother, you are a life-giver to the world.
Are you an encourager or a nagger? 
Nehemiah faced persecution on every hand. His adversaries tried every way to stop him from building up the gates and wall of Jerusalem that were broken down. You are also in a building program and the adversary, the devil, does not want you to succeed in building either. He wants your marriage and family weakened.
For how long will God love you? Until the very end (Jeremiah 31:3 and John 31:1).
How does your husband think of you? Sour like lemon juice or sweet like honey? What about your children?
An Above rubies reader, Cathrine Rose from Canada, found this drawing of her seven-year-old describing how many children she would like to have! Children love to have another sibling, don’t they? We buy them materials gifts and they break or are lost shortly after. But when they get a new sister or brother, they have a friend for life.