Lead your children a little closer to God each new day.
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Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.
Yesterday I showed you a picture of our hymn books which we keep beside our dining room table. We also have hymn sheets which I have printed out with mostly hymns that we can’t find in our hymn book. As you can see, they look welI-used. I also have a fourth one on my computer which is nearly ready to print out.When the young grandchildren are with us for devotions, they love to choose which color they would like and then choose the hymn. They often choose the yellow sheets so they can ask for No. 9, JOY IS A FLAG, which they all love to sing with great gusto with us all waving our hymn sheets in the air for our flags.
This morning at family devotions we sang No. 8 on our yellow sheets, WHITER THAN THE SNOW. Such a wonderful hymn.
1.
Blessed be the fountain of blood,
To a world of sinners revealed;
Blessed be the dear Son of God—
Only by His stripes we are healed.
Though I’ve wandered far from His fold,
Bringing to my heart pain and woe,
Wash me in the blood of the Lamb,
And I shall be whiter than snow.
Refrain:
Whiter than the snow,
Whiter than the snow;
Wash me in the blood of the Lamb,
And I shall be whiter than snow.
2.
Thorny was the crown that He wore,
And the cross His body o’ercame;
Grievous were the sorrows He bore,
But He suffered thus not in vain.
May I to that fountain be led,
Made to cleanse my sins here below;
Wash me in the blood that He shed,
And I shall be whiter than snow.
3.
Father, I have wandered from Thee,
Often has my heart gone astray;
Crimson do my sins seem to me—
Water cannot wash them away.
Jesus, to that fountain of Thine,
Leaning on Thy promise, I go;
Cleanse me by Thy washing divine,
And I shall be whiter than snow.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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This picture is of our Prayer Boxes and Hymn Books which are right near our dining room table, ready to use at our family devotion time each morning and evening.I'm sure you know this following hymn. It's a good one to sing with your family, reminding each other to be always grateful for all God's blessings to us.
When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
2
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.
3
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold.
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your Lord on high.
4
So amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
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A MIGHTY FORTRESS IS OUR GOD
I love the words “One little word can fell him.” That powerful word is Jesus. You can resist the devil inn the name of Jesus. He flees at the power of Jesus’ name.
1 John 3:8 says: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
A mighty Fortress is our God,
A Bulwark never failing;
Our Helper He amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great,
And, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
2
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth His Name,
From age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
3
And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
4
That Word above all earthly powers,
No thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through Him who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His Kingdom is forever.
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Did you remember? I said I would post a hymn each day for the next week to give you a little taste for singing the old hymns again.
This picture was taken years ago of three of my grandsons singing the hymn: "My hope is built on nothing less." It was their favorite hymn, and they are singing the chorus with every bit of gusto they can muster! Encouraged of course by Granddad!
The boys are Arrow Johnson, Cedar Allison who is married to Halle (they have little Lael and are expecting another baby), and Noble Barrett who is married to Megan (they have two little daughters, Isla and Vienna).
Blessings from Nancy
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK, I STAND,
ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND,
ALL OTHE GROUND IS SINKING SAND.
2
When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
3
His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.
4
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
In Him, my righteousness, alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
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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 their own mother. Mothers and babies ae 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 of God’s promise to you that because you are doing the will of God you will live forever Yes, I know this promise is written to those who have embraced the kingdom of God and whose sins are forgiven (1 John 1:7-9).
Here is the promise, also in the book of 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 passeth 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 prepared 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
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SHINE IN YOUR HOME TODAY. BE FULL OF JOY. LAUGH WITH YOUR CHILDREN AND SMILE AT YOUR CHILDREN. DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS. JUST DO IT. YOU WILL BE AMAZED THE DIFFERENCE IT MAKES TO YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN, AND OF COURSE, YOUR HUSBAND!
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Mother, you don’t need to be depressed and overwhelmed in your home. Does Jesus Christ live in your heart? Then you have all you need for every situation you face in your home. Jesus is filled with joy, peace, love, patience and every virtue you need. Let Jesus come into every situation rather than giving into your feelings and your fleshly nature. Exchange your life for His life.
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...with her children all kneeling around her is far greater than any public ministry."
~ Charles Spurgeon
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Never be ashamed of your high calling of motherhood. It is the most influential career in the nation. You are part of determining the next generation and the nation.
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Did you know that your faith in Christ is not only a personal faith, but a TOGETHER faith? Many people like to keep it personal, but that is NOT biblical.When Paul wrote to the new believers in Rome he said: “That I may be comforted TOGETHER with you by the MUTUAL FAITH both of YOU AND ME” (Romans 1:12). Paul revealed three things in this Scripture:
1. Our Christianity is a “together” lifestyle.
2. Our faith is not only a personal faith, but a “mutual faith.”
3. Our faith is a “you and me” faith.
This is why God designed for us to live together as families. God doesn’t want people to live on their own. He sets the solitary in families (Psalm 68:6). He wants our faith to be a family faith. This is why God commands that we meet together as believers and “do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together” (Hebrews 10:25).
I love the TPT of Romans 1:11, 12: “I yearn to come and be FACE-TO FACE with you and get to know you. For I long to impart to you some spiritual gift that will empower you to stand strong in your faith. Now, this means that when we come together and are SIDE BY SIDE, something wonderful will be released. We can expect to be co-encouraged and co-comforted by each other’s faith!”
Our Christianity is a “face to face and side by side” experience, in our family life and our life with fellow believers. We cannot grow into full maturity in our walk with God without one another (Ephesians 2:19-22 and 4:15, 16).
The Bible also speaks of our “common faith” (Titus 1:4) and our “common salvation” (Jude 1:3). The word “common” is “koinos” and means “sharing by all.”
Share your faith together as a family. Never neglect meeting with other believers to encourage one another, inspire one another, teach one another, pray for one another, bless one another, bear one another’s burdens, fellowship with one another, help one another, serve one another, and show hospitality to one another. These are just a few of the 38 “one anothers” God give us to do to one another and they are all the same Greek word as “mutual faith.” And you can’t do these things hiding away on your own. It is togethering.
I think of a coal fire burning brightly. Take one of the coals from off the fire and put it on its own. It is not long before it becomes black and cold with no life in it. Put the coal back in the fire with the other coals and it soon burns brightly again.
Many blessings,
Nancy Campbell
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Your womb belongs to you as a woman. It is where you conceive and grow life. Without the womb bringing forth life this world would come to a screeching halt. It is also the seat of your emotions, your compassion and mercy. Embrace your wombhood and motherhood. They are the glory of your womanhood.
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When I was young, preachers constantly exhorted young people to never marry a non-Christian. They drummed 2 Corinthians 6:14 into us: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” It was a good message, and I could not have ever thought of marrying someone who didn’t love God with all his heart.However, I don’t think that message is explicit enough for today. There are many young Christian men in the church who confess they are born again but who live worldly lives. How much do they even know of God’s Word? There are many who have never been taught God’s plan for family life. They are not ready to take the responsibility of providing for a wife (without the wife working) and would run away at the thought of having a baby as soon as they are married!
I talk to so many wives who are desperate to have another baby, but their husband does not want any more. This is a difficult burden to bear as God has put within women an innate desire to bring forth life. The Bible is true when it says that there are four things that never say “it is enough” and that are “never satisfied.” One is “the barren womb” (Proverbs 39:14, 15).
Therefore, it is vital that a young person checks out these important issues of life before embarking on a relationship.
Amos 3:3 states: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” To have unity and oneness in marriage, we need to be agreed, especially on the most important and vital things of life. We won’t always agree on little things. There are things my husband and I don’t agree on but they are not the important issues. And we don’t mind not agreeing. It’s quite fun to discuss our differences. We always say, “We don’t have to agree with one another; we just have to love one another.”
But back to our subject, conversely this also happens with young men. I know many young men who long for a godly wife, a young woman who is ready to be a mother and homemaker and have the children God planned for them. But they can’t find these women. They find a lovely Christian girl in the church only to find that she wants to finish her college before getting married and then pursue her career rather than having children.
These things need to be sorted out before marriage.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
You will want to read: WHAT QUALITIES SHOULD A GIRL LOOK FOR IN A HUSBAND?
Painting by Henri Jean Guillaume Martin [1860-1943], French painter.
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A daycare worker was sharing with me recently that they take in babies from six weeks old. And yet most dog breeders do not sell their puppies until they are eight weeks of age and up to 12 weeks for toy breeds. How is that human mothers can give up their babies so soon? What has happened to the value of mothering? This worker also mentioned that many mothers never even check to find out when their baby or toddler slept or what food they were given for the day or when. Where is their concern and yearning over their child? What has happened to mothering in this generation?Oh yes, I know they love their babies and little ones. But we can also love chocolate, love our house, and love a new car. Mothering is much bigger than love. It’s commitment. It’s like marriage. Marriage is more than loving. It takes commitment and daily building and pouring into our marriages.
But mothering is even more than commitment. It’s not only something we do. IT’S WHO WE ARE! We were created physically and innately for this divine career. We were born for it. It’s not enough to love our babies and children. We must also love motherhood. Yes, the career of motherhood. When we embrace and love motherhood, we enter into the joy, the fullness, and the glory of motherhood.
Motherhood is not just having a baby. It is nursing from the breast, nurturing, cherishing, and pouring out your life. And as you do the blessing is poured back to you. Mothers and babies are not meant to be separated. They are part of one another. Where the mother goes, the baby goes.
Live in the glory of motherhood today.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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Philippians 2:7 tells us how Jesus “made himself of no reputation and took upon himself the form of a servant.” I was arrested by the fact that no one made Jesus a servant. He took upon Himself the position of a servant!Why did He do this? “For the joy that was set before Him he endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2).
Although Jesus endued such agony as took upon Himself the sin and sickness of the world, He saw ahead to His glorious purpose of getting a bride who would dwell with Him in Heaven eternally. He saw the joy ahead.
Sometimes we despise the role of a servant, don’t we? I can remember back to my early days of motherhood with all my children around me and everything I had to accomplish and sometimes saying in frustration, “I’m just a jolly servant around this place.!” Oh, what disgusting words! I didn’t understand the glory and blessing of being a servant.
When we willingly take up the servant role, because we know this will bring great blessing to our husbands and family, we can do it with joy. When we don’t want to serve, or do the lowly monotonous tasks each day, and have a bad attitude about them, we usually bring gloom and chaos to our household.
But when we willingly serve to bless everyone in our homes and make things run smoothly, we bring joy to everyone in the home and joy to ourselves.
Servanthood equals joy! Isn’t that cool?
Love from Nancy Campbell
Picture: Roger Wilkerson, The Suburban Legend!
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Dear mother, you will receive your reward (1 Corinthians 15:58).
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The Bible doesn’t lie. Put a smile on your face even when you are feeling lousy. You’ll be amazed at how a smile and choosing a happy attitude can change your whole outlook. There’s nothing like a miserable attitude to make you sick. There’s nothing like a cheerful attitude to keep you healthy.
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When we fall away from the original mandate of godly marriage and motherhood, the nation weakens. When strong and stable marriages and homemaking mothers arise again the nation becomes stronger!
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Embrace your God-given privilege of being a woman. This is who God created you to be. Be all that you were destined to be. Live in the glory of your womanhood.
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