Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

The word “dwelt” is “skenoo” and means “to encamp, to occupy, to reside (as God did in the Tabernacle of old, a symbol of protection and communion).” How wonderful that Jesus was willing to leave the glory of Heaven and become a man to dwell with us.

But now, greater than dwelling amongst His people on earth, He dwells in our hearts by His Spirit. He is full of grace and truth and wants us to be full of grace and truth in this world.

He also wants to dwell in our homes. God who created the first home loves to dwell in homes. He walked and talked with Adam and Eve each day in their garden home. He wants to do the same with us today.

Invite Him to come into your home. Invite Him to your table as you sit together as a family each day. Establish an altar (a time and place) where you meet with God each morning and evening. Fill your home with the praises of the Lord. Create an atmosphere for His presence.

When God is in your midst, it doesn’t matter what is happening outside. Live in His dwelling presence.

Have a beautiful day,

Nancy Campbell

Should women go to war? I don’t believe that mothers with children should leave their precious children and their homes to go to war. This is the opposite to God’s plan.

God shows us something of His heart about this in Psalm 68:11, 12 (HCSB): “The Lord gave the command; a great company of women brought the good news: The kings of the armies flee—they flee!” She who stays at home divides the spoil.”

What is happening here? The enemy has come to attack and therefore the soldiers (the men) prepare and go out to war. They are the army in the field.

But there is another army at home—the women. They are also called an army. The word “company” means those who are part of an army, a military, a war! My KJV Bible gives the word “army” in the margin. It’s the same word that is used of God who is THE LORD OF HOSTS! The One who is the mighty, powerful Warrior, ready to intervene for His people.

Where is this army of women? They are not out fighting the enemy in the field. They are at home. Do you notice it says: “SHE who stays home?” It is not the men who stay home, but the women. Some fathers stay home to look after their children while their wives go to work. This is opposite to the Scriptures.

While the men fight to save their homes and families out on the field, the women fight to protect their families and “hold the fort” in the absence of their husbands.

And when they win the battle, they go forth as a conquering force to proclaim the good news! Back in Bible days they danced and sang. And when the men brought back the “spoil,” the gold, silver, and beautiful garments, they didn’t give a little to the women. They gave it all to them. They gave them the authority to divide it and share it among their daughters, handmaidens, the poor, and all around them.

They were all in the fight together, but each one doing the task God intended for them!

French and Skinner’s Translation states:
“The Lord giveth the word!
A great company of women announce the glad tidings!
Kings with their armies flee—they flee!
And those, who dwell within the house, divide the spoil!
Although they lie among the hearth-stones,
They are become like a dove’s wings overlaid with silver,
And like her pinions overlaid with yellow gold.
When the Almighty scattereth kings,
They glisten therein, as snow upon Salmon.”

Dear mother, you are part of a mighty army of women. Your place to fight against the enemy is in the home! You keep the home fires burning. You strengthen your home, your marriage, your family. You keep pushing back the enemy who wants to subtly come into your home with his deceptions and destruction. If you are not there to watch, the enemy will take over!

You support your husband in his work. You release him to do his career and you embrace your role of motherhood with all your heart.

You seek after truth and teach it to your children. You proclaim the good news of the Gospel and of your love for family wherever you go. You are a proclaimer of truths,

Oh, for a great army of women to understand the power of their homes, to come back to their homes and raise godly sons and daughters. Oh, for a great army of women to proclaim God’s truth in society instead of being deceived by the humanistic values of today which are opposite to God’s living Word.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Painting by Jessie Willcox Smith

I love the words of K. Wiggan: “Every child born into the world is a new incarnate thought of God, an ever fresh and radiant possibility.”

We are meant to rejoice when a baby is born. Psalm 107:41-43 tells us that when the upright see God increasing families like a flock that they REJOICE. They are not negative about new babies coming into the world. They understand it is the lovingkindness and goodness of God. It even goes on to say that the wicked are reduced to silence.

Therefore, on Monday evening we planned a Baby Celebration at our home for Serene and her new baby, Solace. We often have the celebration after the baby is born rather than before, so we can celebrate the baby.

Although little Solace is No. 14 in Serene and Sam’s family, it is as important to celebrate her life as if she was the firstborn. In fact, I think that Serene and Sam are more doting parents than ever. Isn’t it true that the older you get the more you appreciate and value life? Serene says she is “smitten” and Sam says he is “besotted” with little Solace.

We had a wonderful celebration of joy. We ate beautiful Trim Healthy Mama food, fellowshipped, celebrated motherhood and the new baby, and played some meaningful games. I’ll post some pictures to let you feel the joy with us.

Many blessings to you today,

Nancy Campbell

What attitude should you have to fulfil the perfect will of God? We read about the attitude of Jesus when He answered God’s call to leave Heaven and come to this earth to die, shed His blood, and to take our sins upon Himself. The prophetic word in Psalm 40:8 says: “I DELIGHT to do thy will, O my God.”

Are you delighting in your motherhood? We decide what attitude we will have each day. We can choose to delight in our mothering. Embrace it with all out heart. Praise God even on the challenging and difficult days. When we delight to do God’s will, we will live in joy (Psalm 113:9 and Hebrews 12:2).

Or we can give in to self-pity and complaining. What does that do? It changes everything into drudgery!

Does someone who serves God in a foreign country and suffers hardship for the name of Christ become disillusioned and grumble about their difficulties? No. They embrace it all with joy because they are serving God. They know they are walking in God’s will. The perfect will of God is not always the easiest path, but it is the eternal one. The greatest one. The only one.

You determine your attitude of mothering. You determine the atmosphere of your home. It’s either delight or drudgery.

Will choose to DELIGHT in will of God for you today?

Love from Nancy Campbell

Remember, God does not give you a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). Don't give into the phony doubts and fears the devil puts into your mind. He especially loves to put fears in your heart about having another baby. Or wondering how you could ever provide for another baby.

Fear stops you from doing the will of God. That's why the enemy uses fear against you. It immobilizes you. Debilitates you. Paralyzes you. Instead, fill your mind with God's Word. His truth LIBERATES you!

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Each time a godly couple get married and establish a godly marriage and a godly family, they help to strengthen the nation. Godly marriages and families are the strength and hope of our nation.

If we want to halt the downward trend in our nation, Christian families must become stronger than ever.

Stronger in our commitment to marriage which God ordained at the beginning of time.
Stronger in our commitment to family and bringing forth godly offspring.
Stronger in encouraging other marriages and families.
Stronger in our biblical convictions and passing them on to our children.
Stronger in filling our children with God's Word which is the antidote to deception.
Stronger in training them for righteousness.
Stronger in upholding God's truth without shame and fear.
Stronger in standing against all filth, unrighteousness, and deception.
Stronger in our passion for God.

If we are mediocre, half-hearted, pathetic, and love worldly ways, we are on our way to becoming a more godless nation.

Let’s all be those who are strengtheners of the nation.

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: “The Homecoming” by Jennie Brownscombe, American 1850-1936.

We live in a hurting world. You may have been bruised in your spirit by parents, your husband, or other people in your life. Jesus understands what it means to be bruised, because He was bruised for you (Isaiah 53:5). He is the One who heals the broken-hearted (Psalm 147:3 and Isaiah 61:1). If you are bruised and feel you cannot cope with life, remember that Christ wants to make you whole again.

Speaking of Jesus, Isaiah 42:3 says: "A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench." A reed is a weak and fragile plant at any time, especially a bruised reed. But Jesus will never crush you in your weakness. He will only heal you and make you strong. He will take you from being a crushed reed to make you a sturdy "tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified" (Isaiah 61:3). He will make you as tall, strong, and enduring as the cedars of Lebanon.

What about the smoking flax? Is the fire that once shone brightly in your heart gone out? Or maybe it's barely smoldering. Will you let Him come into your life and stir up the smoldering flames again? He wants you to burn brightly for Him.

Because Christ lives within us by His Spirit, this should also be our attitude to others too. We can bruise our husband and our children with hurtful words. We can dampen the flame in their hearts by careless and negative words.

Let's be like Jesus and be a flame igniter, not an extinguisher.

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

You are a home KEEPER (KJV, BECK, WILLIAMS)
You are a home MAKER (NKJB, HCSB, AMP, CEB)
You are a home MANAGER (OJB)
You are a home WORKER (ESV, NASB, NCV, NLT, WEB).
You are a home LOVER (JBP).

Do you notice that these words are verbs? They make things happen. You are building a home and family to strengthen this nation and bless the world.

The Darby translation says: “Diligent in home work.” We are not slack on the job. We are diligent. Our mind is on the job. Our heart is in our work. We are pouring into our home and the lives of our children for today and for generations to come.

And I love the WAY translation which says: “Recognize that their sphere is home.” God has given you a queendom. He has given you a domain where you can accomplish great things. It is your home.

Begin to imagine and then fulfil the great things that you can do in your home today.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Painting by Millicent Etheldreda Gray.

Why do hospitals send mothers home breastfeeding their babies with the football position? It’s so uncomfortable for mother and baby and doesn’t even give skin to skin contact.

We were thinking as we drove home that once again this would be such a wonderful thing for all mothers to enjoy when they come home with their first baby—to have older mothers surround them who can give them tips and help with nursing and mothering.

I am sure this is what it was like in the old days. Today, so many precious young mothers are isolated. They go home from the hospital with no one to help and encourage them. No wonder they get depressed instead of being filled with joy.

It’s time we got back to truly encouraging mothers, don’t you think?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

The first shower was not just for ladies, but for couples. Although Meadow is Pearl’s daughter, Evangeline and her team did the preparation. For three days she prepared and set up everything in our big celebration room for a sit-down meal for over 80 people. It looked like a wedding celebration.

It was also a time for people to speak into the lives of Kendall and Meadow to give wisdom and inspiration as they begin their new adventure of parenting. We counted the parenting years of those present (0 – 18 years parenting) and found we collectively had nearly 1,000 years of parenting experience to share with them. Grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, and friends all poured into their lives. What an amazing initiation into parenting.

But that wasn’t the end. Not long before her birth, a few of us ladies gathered at Pearl’s home for a different kind of shower--a birth encouragement gathering. We enjoyed quiche and THM muffins for morning tea and then sat around together to give positive insights and understanding to prepare Meadow for her birth. No one was invited who didn’t have positive things to say! No negative stories! Only knowledgeable and positive words. It was such a blessing and preparation for her, although she had already been conscientiously preparing and reading herself. I could say that she did a college course on preparing herself for birth.

I think that every first-time mother should have the privilege of receiving this kind of blessing. A lot more powerful than a few silly games! In fact, I think we should start new kinds of baby showers. I know we will continue doing this for the first-time mothers coming up in our family.

And now Meadow has given birth. After 27 hours of intensive labor, she gave birth to their darling baby boy, Warren Charles, at 8.30 am on Sunday morning 4th February. Many first-time mothers would have caved in, but Meadow was so prepared spiritually and mentally, and continued with great endurance as she labored forward to the ultimate joy of her baby appearing. She reaped the reward of the glorious, oxytocin high of a natural birth. She was on such a high that she was ready to do it all over again!

Don’t you think it’s a good idea to make baby showers more meaningful?

Love from Nancy Campbell

On Sunday morning our granddaughter, Meadow, gave birth to her little boy, Warren Charles. What are her words? “Daddy and I are so in love.”

Other friends have also recently given birth. What are their comments when they post a picture of their baby?
“I am in love.”
“She’s a mama baby squish. Love her so.”
“So worth it.” And so on.

Why do many mothers deny having another baby because they think their career or job is more important? A job, no matter how important, will not melt your heart. Nor is it eternal. You will leave it behind and all the possessions you accumulated by having the extra finance. But the soul of your precious child will live forever.

Never say NO to a baby.

Love from Nancy Campbell

“While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It’s on the new paper you just hung in the den,
I told him you’d be mad at having to do it again.”

She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
“Where is your little brother right now?”
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.

She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear – he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper, and how she had saved.

Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!

She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, “I love Mommy,” surrounded by a heart.

Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall.

– Author Unknown

Secure in God’s love and protected from the world,
Guarded from evil and grounded in God’s Word
By a mother who has embraced her calling divine,
The mandate God gave from the beginning of time.

You’re now planted at home, you’ve found your “glory,"
Left career behind--that was another story!
You’ve now been promoted to a much higher career!
You’re in God’s perfect will so you don’t have to fear.

You’re nurturing, nourishing, and building your nest,
Under your husband’s covering, you’re totally blessed.
God has promised to provide, He is Jehovah Jireh,
He will always be faithful, He is not a liar.

You are an “arrow polisher," sharpening your arrows,
You’re not pecking on the ground like little sparrows,
But soaring like the eagle, your stature is high,
You’re changing the course of the nation as on God you rely!’

Dear mighty mother, stand up and be strong,
Don’t be fooled by the enemy and the worldly throng,
Don’t be deceived by the mindset of this society,
Embrace your motherhood, it’s your highest priority!

Don’t be conformed to the humanistic trend,
It only leads to heartache in the final end.
Be a non-conformist, stand against the tide,
You don’t have to be governed by this world’s pride.

Instead be transformed by God’s living Word,
He is restoring His truth, will you be stirred?
Will you be part of this end-time restoration
To train godly children and change the nation?

God is preparing a people for Jesus’ second appearing,
He wants an army of arrows, trained and unfearing,
Straight arrows to go forth from the parents’ bow,
The deceptions of Satan to overthrow.

May you receive God’s anointing and His daily renewing
As you become part of this revival which is all God’s doing.
You will be part of heralding the coming of the King
As you build God’s army–and His praises will ring.

~ Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org

Painting: "The Alphabet" (also known as Jean and Gabrielle), Pierre Auguste Renoir (1897.

Aren’t these amazing words? Dear mother, this word tells you that you are going to judge the world and angels! But don’t wait until them. You must also judge the things that pertain to this life. Even the SMALLEST matters. This gets right down to the nitty gritty of mothering in your home. Every day you judge matters with your children. In fact, you are a court judge!

Motherhood is a powerful career. It is not easy to be a judge. We need wisdom from God for every matter, even the smallest matters. We often judge wrongly and make wrong decisions. But as we seek God daily for His wisdom, He will give it to you liberally (James 1:5-8).

In Jeremiah 9:24 God says: “I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment (justice), and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD". God is fully all lovingkindness, all justice, and all righteousness. Sometimes we find it hard to exercise these attributes fully. Either we are too merciful or too judgmental. But as we seek God, He will help us. As we cry out to Him, He will pour out His Spirit upon us and teach us how to judge correctly.

God says of Abraham in Genesis 18:19: “For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment.” Our children will not learn to walk in justice and judgment unless we teach them the way of justice and righteousness. This means teaching and training them daily in even the smallest matters of their lives. Small matters eventually become big matters.

We cannot teach them unless we judge between right and wrong, the clean and the unclean, righteousness and evil, truth and lies. Mother, please do not underestimate your high calling to judge your children.

Cry out to god for wisdom daily. Ask God for wisdom in judging even the SMALLEST matters. In this way, you will not only train your children in righteousness, but you will be practicing for the future when you will judge the world and angels.

Keep practicing daily.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Satan knows God’s plans and seeks to thwart them. God wants His people to be fruitful and take dominion for Him in the earth. He wants His image to be revealed in the earth. He wants the revelation of His name, His salvation, truth, love, compassion, and righteousness to fill the earth.

The easiest way for the devil to stop the image of God filling the earth is to subtly brainwash God’s people to stop having children. He has been very successful. Most Christians today think God’s first mandate are idle words. They have been deceived to think they don’t have to take any notice of them at all. They think they have a better way than God.

How can we be true believers In God’s infallible Word if we don’t think His words are important? We have become so deceived that we don’t even realize the state in which we are in. Instead of righteousness filling the land, we see the encroachment of evil. Most people in the church have the same small families as the world.

Most believers are so entrenched in this world system that they continue sending their children to public schools and colleges where they are propagandized in liberal doctrine, alternative lifestyles, and antagonism to God and His Word.

When will God’s people start standing on God’s side instead of the devil’s side?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

And what about other people? Paul wrote to the Colossian believers: “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ. . . Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Do you notice that he called them “saints” and “faithful”? The word “saints” is “hagios” and means “holy, set apart, sanctified, consecrated, and pure.” He greeted them with positive words: “holy and faithful.”

Why don’t we try to encourage people when we meet them? How lovely to greet friends in a way that will uplift their souls:
“So great to see you today, dear faithful friend. How are you?”
“What a joy to see your smiling face. You light up my day.”
“What a joy to see you. May you be blessed today.”
“How wonderful to meet another sanctified saint.”

Change someone’s life every time you open your mouth.

Be encouraged and blessed,

Nancy Campbell

Have you read about Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)? He was known as one of the greatest preachers and theologians in American history and was involved in the revival known as the Great Awakening. He married Sarah Edwards when she was 17 years and they had 11 children. Not only did this couple influence the nation through their lives and Jonathan’s preaching, but they influenced the nation through their children and continuing descendants.

Let’s peek at the family of Jonathan and Sarah Edwards. In 1900, A. Winship tracked down 1400 descendants of this family. By 1900 this godly marriage had produced . . .

13 college presidents
65 professors
100 lawyers and a dean of an outstanding law school
30 judges
60 doctors and a dean of a medical school
80 holders of public office including:
3 United States Senators
3 Mayors of large cities
3 State governors
Third Vice President of the United States, Aaron Burr
Controller of the United States Treasury.

Members of the family wrote 135 books and edited 18 journals and periodicals.

They entered the ministry in platoons and sent 100 missionaries overseas as well as stocking many mission boards with lay trustees. They directed banks, insurance companies, owned coalmines, iron plants and vast oil interests.

Winship states: “There is scarcely any great American industry that has not had one of this family among its chief promoters.”

Because of the responsibilities of Jonathan Edwards' ministry, Winship goes on to say: “Much of the capacity and talent, intensity and character of the Edwards family is due to Mrs. Sarah Edwards.” The influence of one godly mother has continued down through the generations to affect the destiny of the world.

In his last sermon Jonathan preached: “Every Christian family ought to be as it were a little church, consecrated to Christ, and wholly influenced and governed by his rules. And family education and order are some of the chief means of grace. If these fail, all other means are likely to prove in effectual. If these are duly maintained, all the means of grace will be likely to prosper and be successful . . . Take heed that it not be with any of you as it was with Eli of old, who reproved his children, but restrained them not; and that, by this means, you do not bring the like curse on your families as he did on his.”

Elisabeth Dodds writes of Sarah: “Her system of discipline was begun at a very early age and it was her rule to resist the first, as well as every subsequent exhibition of temper or disobedience in the child . . . wisely reflecting that until a child will obey his parents he can never be brought to obey God.

She also writes: “Their children were eleven different people, proving that Sarah’s discipline did not squash their personalities — perhaps because an important aspect of their disciplined life was that, as Samuel Hopkins wrote, “for [her children] she constantly and earnestly prayed and bore them on her heart before God . . . and that even before they were born.”

In contrast to the Edwards family, 1200 of the Jukes family were tracked down. They originated with one immigrant who settled in upstate New York in 1720 and produced a tribe of “idleness, ignorance, and vulgarity.” Only 20 of the 1200 Jukes ever had any gainful employment and all the others were criminals or lived on state aid.

How are you influencing future generations?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Believe God for a great day tomorrow. Confess you are going to have a great day. And even when things go wrong, laugh instead of getting upset! Your little problem is not the end of the world. It’s just a little hiccup, and we all have loads of them every day. They don’t have to be a problem at all if we trust God with them.

Even more than tomorrow. Think of the future. Dear mother, you are mothering for the years when you will no longer be here. Your mothing impacts future generations.

Get a vision beyond today, beyond the next few years--to generations ahead. It changes your mothering. You will understand the influence you wield as you mold your children and future generations to come.

I was reading the other day about Achan who disobeyed God and took silver and gold and Babylonian garments which God told them they were not to touch. I find it challenging to read that when the Bible pinpoints Achan as the culprit that it doesn’t only mention his name, but his father, grandfather, and even his great-grandfather (Joshua chapter 7). His great-grandfather’s name was marred because of his great-grandson’s sin!

Conversely, we read in Zephaniah 1:1 about Zephaniah who was a prophet to the nation. As it introduces him, it cites the names of his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and his great-great-grandfather! Wouldn’t you love to know that your great-great-grandson was a prophet of God to the nation?

How we need to pray for future generations. Do you do that? When Colin and I pray for our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, we also like to pray for future generations beyond that. We want our progeny to keep walking with God down the generations “FROM NOW AND FOREVER” as it says in Isaiah 59:21.

Be encouraged. Look beyond today. You are doing a great work.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Painting: Bedtime Story by James Bernardin.