Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

* When Mary came to visit her cousin Elisabeth during her sixth month of pregnancy, the moment she greeted her “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was FILLED with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice” (Luke 1:41-42).

* At the circumcision celebration for John the Baptist, his father, Zacharias was "FILLED with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied” (Luke 1:67).

* Jesus was conceived by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT COMING UPON Mary (Matthew 1:20 and Luke 1:35).

* When Joseph and Mary took baby Jesus to the temple to be dedicated, Simeon, a man FILLED with the Holy Spirit and waiting for the coming of the Messiah, took him up in his arms and blessed God (Luke 2:25-28).

* During Jesus' childhood he was FILLED with wisdom (Luke 2:40).

The challenge is: what are we filled with as we remember the birth of Christ? Are we filled with anxiety and busyness, or are we filled with the Holy Spirit? Imagine if we spent as much time seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit as rushing around buying gifts and preparing for Christmas. What would happen? Imagine if we took time to listen to the Holy Spirit. What would He say to us? What difference would it make in our lives and in our homes? Imagine if we asked the Holy Spirit to lead us instead of doing our own agenda. How would He direct us?

Can we enjoy a FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT Christmas?

Love from Nancy Campbell

How is it that before it's born
A child is seen as less
Than anyone outside the womb?
It's strange, I must confess . . .

Until I ponder on this truth
Revealed in God's own Word,
That people are deceived and lost
Until their ears have heard . . .

That God, the Author of all life,
Gives value to us all.
Rich or poor, young or old,
All people, big or small.

Before He formed us in the womb
Our lives by Him were planned.
Yet till we know our worth to Him,
We cannot understand.

Oh Lord, please open every heart
To know your love for all,
That every unborn, precious life
Will live to hear your call.

Rescue those condemned to die
At hands of sinful man.
Restore the right of every life,
Let truth rule in this land.

Each baby that you send in love
Is a miracle of grace,
As we gaze upon each tiny one,
There's the image of Your face.

VAL HALLORAN

Isaiah 49: 1, 5 is another messianic prophecy also speaks boldly of the womb: “Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far (God wants the whole world to receive this amazing news!); The LORD hath called me from the WOMB; from the bowels (WOMB) of my MOTHER hath he made mention of my name. . . . And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the WOMB to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him . . . “

Because God put such favor and importance on the womb to bring forth His Beloved Son, Satan hates the womb (Genesis 3:15). There is still war against the womb today. Satan seeks to delude and deceive women about the power of their womb. The Son of God came through a womb to deal a death blow to the enemy and bring salvation to the world. But God still wants children to come forth from the womb to bear His image and to bring salvation to many.

The womb is God’s blessing to us. It is His blessing to the world. Nothing in this world can happen except through the womb. All the mighty works God wants accomplished can only happen through His servants and they must come into the world through the womb. All the great feats and accomplishments of this world only happen through someone who was conceived and birthed from the womb.

Why do so many women today choose to close their womb? To stop the function of their womb? Many reject their womb, and yet GOD CHOSE A WOMB for His only Beloved Son who is King of kings and Lord of lords.

Mary’s response was: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word” (Luke 1:38). What is your response?

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Pearl was the one who used to recite this poem at Christmas when the children were young. Later her daughters, Meadow, and then Autumn recited it at our Christmas gatherings. They are now older and therefore this year I am asking Breezie (Serene’s daughter) to learn it to recite at Christmas.

After our big Christmas Dinner at midday and speeches and toasts, we wait until the later in the day to have dessert. After this we have a family concert where the adults and children sing, recite poems, or play instruments etc.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Simeon, like Zacharias also prophesied that Jesus came to bring LIGHT. Jesus is the LIGHT GIVER! When He comes in with His light, He also brings His glory.

Job 18:5-56: "Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him." What a terrible indictment it would be to have people say, "The light is dark in their home!" I don't want there to be any darkness in my home, do you? I don't want our light to die out. I want the light of Christ to increase.

Is your home filled with light? Or are their shadows of darkness? Let's make room for the light of Christ Jesus to shine into our hearts, into the hearts of our children, into our plan of every day, and into every room in our home. Let's push out any darkness that creeps in and make homes that are filled with light.

Be blessed today,

Nancy

Don’t you love this amazing painting of Simeon taking baby Jesus up in His arms, knowing that he is privileged to behold the Messiah and embrace Him in his arms? Read the whole story in Luke 2:22-38.

They had no room for the Light of the World in Bethlehem. Do we make room for Him in our lives? Do we allow Him to expose the darkness and flood our lives with His light? Every time we respond to the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives and say Yes to God we open up to His light. When we are stubborn, want our own way, and say No to the convicting of the Holy Spirit, we choose darkness.

Dear mother, we must teach our children this powerful principle too. Every time they say Yes to you and Yes to the Holy Spirit they receive more light into their lives. When they disobey you and say No to the voice of their conscience they allow darkness into their lives.

Let’s be those who open up MORE AND MORE to the Light and less and less to the darkness. Proverbs 4:18: "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth MORE AND MORE unto the perfect day."

Each new day, individually and as a family, ask God to FLOOD YOU WITH HIS LIGHT.

Love from Nancy

Awhile back I read another new word in one of George McDonald’s books. He talked about “homeness,” picturing the warmth, love, and joy of home. I love this word too. It takes thought, time, love, and prayer to make our home a place of “homeness,” doesn’t it? It’s never wasted time. It’s a beautiful thing. Can we experientially add this word to our vocab?

Let’s keep going. What about “wombness”? Yes, there’s such a word. It’s not some imaginative word. It’s a reality. It’s very much part of who we are as women. In fact, you would not be a woman if you did not have a womb!

However, did you know that that wombness also applies to God? The Hebrew word “racham” is used in the Bible to describe the literal womb of woman, and to also reveal God’s compassion and tender mercy. It is translated “mercy” 32 times. When we embrace our wombness, we reveal the compassion and mercy of God.

The meaning of “feminine” in the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary is as follows: “The first syllable is probably from womb . . . The last part of the word is probably from man, quasi, “femman,” womb-man. To be feminine is to be ‘a womb man.’”

And what about all the other beautiful “ness” words which should fill our home? Don’t gloss over these words, but think about which ones you need to incorporate more into your home life.

Amiableness, availableness,
cheerfulness, cleanliness, courteousness,
faithfulness, forgiveness, fruitfulness,
generousness, gentleness, godliness, goodness, graciousness, greatheartedness,
heavenliness, helpfulness, holiness, humbleness,
joyfulness,
kindness,
loveliness,
meekness, mercifulness, motherliness,
nestingness,
peacefulness, positiveness, prayerfulness, pureness,
respectfulness, restfulness, righteousness,
selflessness, steadfastness, submissiveness, sweetness,
teachableness, tenderheartedness, thankfulness, thoughtfulness, truthfulness,
uprightness, usefulness,
virtuousness,
willingness, and you’ll think of more.

Why not write out in BIG LETTERS the words that speak to you and pin them up in your kitchen and other appropriate places in the home. Change to different words each week. They will inspire you and your children!

Love from Nancy Campbell

Mothers, we must be watchwomen, constantly on the alert for Satan’s crafty ways. 1 Peter 5:8, 9 says: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith.”

When he puts his toe in your door, boot him out before he gets any further. Speak the name of Jesus ALOUD. Confess the Scriptures ALOUD. Don’t allow the enemy to get entrenched in your home. Raise up the stand of righteousness. Cast out all worldly practices and entertainment, and “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:15-17). Deal strongly with negative and evil habits.

God spoke to His servant, David: “I have cut off all thine enemies OUT OF THY SIGHT” (2 Samuel 7:9). God reveals the way He wants us to also deal with Satan’s temptations. We cast them OUT OF OUR SIGHT! We don’t allow them to linger around. We don’t tolerate them. We send them kicking, OUT OF SIGHT AND OUT OF MIND.

James 4:7 says: “RESIST the devil, and he will flee from you.”

Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell

But we go a step further. Ephesians 6:32 tells us about the “GREAT MYSTERY.” It’s not a little mystery, but a huge mystery. Yes, the Greek word is “megas” meaning exceedingly great. It’s the mystery that our marriage relationship is to be a picture of the relationship of Christ the bridegroom and His bride the church.

Do we have this attitude to our husbands? Do we come running when they need us? Or when they need us to do something for them? Or just to spend time with them? I am challenged myself.

How easy it is to lag behind. “Yes, in a minute, I’ve just got to finish what I’m doing.” Or it’s bedtime. Your husband waits for you in bed. “I’ll be there soon. Just checking my email. Won’t be a minute!” But an hour or more later you crawl into bed! This is not the picture of the mystery of the Bridegroom and the bride.

Our Bridegroom is a Coming Savior. Let’s be a coming bride. Let’s be a coming wife to our husband. This is how we reveal the mystery.

Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell

To come to be our sacrifice for sins, He had to respond to His Father’s will, “Yes, I will COME.” He first came into the womb of a humble young maiden. He came from the magnificence of the eternal world to become flesh and blood. The “glory” of heaven and the “dearly beloved” of the Father came forth as a baby. Hebrews 10:5 tells us “a body hast thou prepared for me.” From glorious heights He came down to this sin-sick world, saying, “I come. I delight to come because I delight to do the Father’s will.”

He continued saying “I come” as He submitted Himself to the cross and the agony of taking the sins and sicknesses of world upon Him (Philippians 2:5-8). Our finite minds can never ever fathom the depths of His sacrifice for us. We will never ever fathom the heights of His love for us. All because He was willing to say, ‘LO, I COME.” “I come for you. I come to save you from your sins. I come to deliver you from the power of your self life. I come to give you eternal life.”

What is your response to His “Come”? Do you come saying, “Dear Lord Jesus, You gave Your life for me; I give you my life to serve you.” Do you come into His presence every morning when you wake? Do you come as a family to gather in His presence? Do you come throughout the day--looking to Him- and cast upon Him for He is not only your Savior, but your Rock and Fortress?

Jesus came for each one of us. Let’s be those who constantly come to Him. Never lagging behind. Never dragging the feet. But confessing as Jesus did, “I come, dear Lord Jesus, for I DELIGHT TO DO YOUR WILL.”

May each one us be in awe as we remember, at this season of the year, the miraculous and incomprehensible, supernatural incarnation of the Son of God.

In His love,

Nancy Campbell

2 Corinthians 13:5 challenges us with these words: "Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith, prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU, except ye be reprobates." We need to examine our faith in the midst of trials and difficulties. This is the true testing.

However, we need not despair that we cannot live up to God's holy standard. We can't! Do you notice the words "JESUS CHRIST IS IN YOU"? It's not your trying to be perfect in your little world of mothering your children. It is allowing the life of Jesus Christ who lives within you to live His life through you.

Get into this habit. Say No to the flesh. Say No to anger and frustration. Say No to self-pity and gloom. Instead, thank Christ for His patience and love that IS IN YOU BECAUSE HE LIVES IN YOU!

Your greatest test in your kitchen is not trying to be more perfect, but yielding to the life of Christ in you!

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

God’s Word is totally settled in heaven. It is established. It is firmly fixed. It stands firm and unchangeable. However, God wants His Word to not only be settled in heaven, but settled in our minds and hearts. Settled in our homes. Settled in our family lives.

When everything falls apart around us, we stand on God’s Word. When we don’t know where the next cent is coming from we stand on God’s Word. When we have no human answer, we stand on God’s Word. It is infallible.

During this last year when we battled in prayer for our grandson, Arden, who was struggling with cancer, we claimed this promise. Along with many other promises. I typed them out in big letters and pasted them all around the walls. We confessed and claimed the promises as we prayed. We didn’t pray one prayer. We prayed daily. At one season, we came together every night for 13 consecutive weeks as an extended family to pray. We continue to pray three nights a week together. We are still waiting for results, but we believe God has answered our prayers. Even in the toughest and heartbreaking times we believed he was already healed at the cross when Jesus took our sins and our sicknesses. We believed the promises of God even when our natural eye saw the opposite.

Dear mothers, I believe we must have God’s Word settled in our hearts. We must know what God says. We must know His original and eternal plan for us as mothers. We must seek after His truth. We have the responsibility to impart His truths to our children so that His Word becomes settled in their hearts. They should not have bits and pieces of God’s Word; it should be richly implanted in them. Established in them. Imbedded in the them so that even when they face the world with all its subtle deceptions they will not be changed or turned from eternal truths.

The good old hymn, “Standing on the promises” is a picture of God’s Word settled in our hearts. We can stand on it because it stands in eternity. It stands on its own. It doesn’t need the advice of anyone of us on earth. It’s God’s Word with no exceptions.

Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell

I'LL BELIEVE IT TILL I DIE!
Further to my post below, STANDING FAST IN A SHAKING WORLD, here are some lines that are so great to memorize. Get your children to learn them.

Every principle begins in the home. More importantly, it begins with our marriage relationship.

There can be times when you feel dissatisfied with the way your husband treats you. You feel he forgets about you. He doesn’t treat you with love and passion. He says derogatory words to you. In fact, you just feel like forgetting about him!

But what about the golden rule? It starts with me. It starts with you. When you do to your husband the things you’d love him to do to you, you’ll be amazed how he will change. Maybe not all at once. But keep doing all the lovely things you want him to do to you and you will notice changes. Remember, it is an eternal principle that works!

Do you notice the Scripture says ALL THINGS! Not some things. Start today doing ALL the things to your husband that you want him to do to you. Where do you feel most hurt or even bitter? Begin right in this most difficult place and to do to him what you long for him to do to you.

Isn’t it wonderful how God’s Word always shows us the answer? I’ll admit it’s not easy. You won’t feel like doing it. It goes against everything in you. But you do it by faith. You do it because it will work. You do it because you are not a wimp, but strong in God’s strength.

Much love to you today,

Nancy Campbell

The Amplified says: “They set up their own emblems for signs of victory.”

Can you believe it? The enemy had come into the heart of God’s sanctuary and established their banners! And yet we see the same thing happening today. Right under the nose of God’s people, the enemy has entered into the heart of the church and set up his banners.

In most of Christendom today, the banners are flying high . . .

“Wait a few years until you are established before you start a family.”

“Make sure you use birth control.”

“Don’t have too many children.”

“Put your children in daycare so you can enjoy your career.”

“It’s my body, it’s my life, and I don’t need anyone (even my husband) telling me what to do.”

These ideologies are now entrenched in the church. They are not God’s signs. They are not taken from the Bible. In fact, they are opposite. They are opposite to God’s nature and His original plan for mankind. They are humanistic ideologies, taken from the very source of Satan himself.

It’s time to take the flags of God’s truths, which are flying in the dust, and lift them high.

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting by Yihang Pan

Every precious new baby that comes into the world, born in the image of God, is another opportunity to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). Even the Son of God, Creator and Ruler of the universe entered the world in the womb of a mother and came forth as a little baby. This One who came as a baby will rule the world and bring ALL HIS ENEMIES UNDER HIS FEET.

I love the words of Frank Boreham, "We fancy that God can only manage His world by big battalions abroad, when all the while He is doing it by beautiful babies at home. When a wrong wants righting, or a truth wants preaching, or a continent wants opening, God sends a baby into the world to do it. That is why, long ago, a babe was born in Bethlehem.”

Never despise the power of conception and the miracle of a new baby growing in your womb. Rejoice in the awesomeness of God’s plan. A precious life is being prepared to come forth to impact this world. An eternal soul grows within you that will live forever.

Are you past child-bearing years? Rejoice with those who are bringing forth life. Never discourage, but encourage every new mother you meet. Psalm 107:41-43 states: “He makes him families like a flock. The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.”

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Trust Him when thy soul is burdened
With the sense of all its sin;
He will speak the word of pardon,
He will make thee clean within.

Trust Him for the grace sufficient,
Ever equal to thy need;
Trust Him always for the answer,
When in His dear name you lead.

Trust Him for the grace to conquer;
He is able to subdue;
Trust Him for the power for service;
Trust Him for the blessing too.

Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,
Trust Him when thy strength is small,
Trust Him when to simply trust Him
Seems the hardest thing of all.

Trust Him; He is ever faithful;
Trust Him; for His will is best;
Trust Him; for the heart of Jesus
Is the only place of rest.

Trust Him, then, through cloud or sunshine,
All thy cares upon Him cast;
Till the storm of life is over,
And the trusting days are past.

~ L. A, Bennett

I love the Good News Translation: “Take the impurities out of silver and the artist can produce A THING OF BEAUTY.” God wants to make our lives beautiful. He wants to expose all the junk, all the sin, and all the selfishness that spoils His image in our lives.

It comes down to the reality that we must let Him work in our lives. If we resist, we stay with all our impurities. Our family misses out seeing Jesus in us. The world misses seeing Jesus in us. And we will never be all that God intends for us.

I am always amazed how that even God’s Words were purified in the eternal realm before He gave them to us. Not purified once, but SEVEN TIMES! Proverbs 12:6 says: “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” We can trust every word of God’s eternal Word. It is as up-to-date as tomorrow.

Can we let God work in us to mold us into “a thing of beauty”?

Blessings to you today,

NANCY CAMPBELL

Read also Job 23:10; Psalm 66:10-12; Malachi 3:1-3; Isaiah 48:10; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15; 2 Timothy 2:21; 1 Peter 1:6, 7; and Revelation 3:17, 18.

OUCH!
(After reading the post, A THING OF BEAUTY below, you will be blessed by the following:)

“Ouch!” says the lump of clay as the Potter throws it back on the wheel.
The wheel spins faster and faster as the firm hand of the Potter begins to shape the clay.
“Stop it, I can’t take any more,” cries the clay.
The Potter: “I am creating a vessel of HONOR--an instrument of great unsurpassed beauty to be of service in the courts of the King.”
The lump of clay: “Not my will, but thine be done.”

It’s much the same message of Matthew 5:13 where Jesus says: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men”

Salt preserves. Salt enhances flavor. Salt heals. Salt also stings when it is put in a cut or open wound. But if we are not faithful to be salt to our children and those around us we lose our savor. That means we become insipid. That means we are “worthless” and no good to anyone. And we get to this stage, we are an easy takeover for government, and also for Satan.

Are you a salty mother? Are you salty in your church and community?

May God save us from being part of the insipid church today that no longer stands up for God’s Word and His principles, but has instead embraced the “tolerance movement” where we must be tolerant of everything, even if God hates it!

Let’s be part of the salty church that affects society, even if we are unpopular.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell