Not easy to do, especially in our marriages, but it works miracles. Let’s keep soft and humble hearts. Matthew 19:8 tells us that a hard heart leads to divorce.
459 Hits
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.
What a momentous job we have as mothers. It’s no ordinary job. It’s the most powerful in the nation. One of our many great tasks is to be the peacemakers and to keep unity in the home. Wow, that’s not easy, is it? Sometimes we ourselves can be the cause of disunity!But what did Jesus say? “No house divided against itself will stand” (Matthew 12:25 ESV).
Here ae a few more translations:
“A family splintered by feuding will fall apart” (NLT).
“Every household divided against itself will not survive” (CJB)
“Any household that is disunited cannot last” (Goodspeed).
Do we want our marriage to last? Do we want our home and family to stand together to the end? Well, we have the answers. We must keep the spirit of unity. We must cultivate togetherness. We must work toward harmony. In fact, Romans 12:16 tells us to “Live in harmony with one another” (most translations).
Now that doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything! Help! If that was the case, we would be in disarray. I have a very independent and outspoken family and we all have differing views on many things. But that doesn’t hinder our unty.
In fact, we love discussions and debates together, often having different views but enjoy the sharpening of one another’s minds. As my husband says, “We don’t have to agree with each other on everything as long as we love one another.”
Therefore, even in our differences, we seek to keep unity. We seek to keep a good attitude. We keep forgiving. We keep loving. We forbear with one another. And most of all, we keep the unity.
What is our challenge?
Build a marriage that will last.
Build a family that will survive the ups and downs and all the traumas and difficulties that we all face in life.
Build a home that will not fall apart!
Be blessed today,
Nancy Campbell
P.S. A good way to do this is to put into practice all the ONE ANOTHER Scriptures that God gives us in His Word (41 of them!). You can find these in 100 DAYS OF BLESSING, Volume 4.
Available from www.aboverubies.org
434 Hits
A dear friend shared with me today a beautiful understanding of God who is our El Shaddai which means "The Breasted One."
When a baby is born the mother instinctively longs to nurse and nourish her baby. Where does this instinct come from? Of course, it comes from God who is El Shaddai, "the Breasted One." The understanding of this name of God also means, "The God who is Enough." He longs to supply our every need and His wells are inexhaustible. He waits for us to come and feed from Him so we can grow and mature.
1 Peter 2:2 says: "As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."
Thinking of this I thought of the FAILURE TO THRIVE syndrome where a child has very low weight gain or low increase in weight gain. This is a serious condition for a baby. And yet so many are living in SPIRITUAL Failure to Thrive syndrome. Our El Shaddai waits and longs to pour out of His inexhaustible riches to satisfy and feed us. But often He waits in vain.
We do not come to Him. We do not come to His precious Word to feed. We take a little sip on Sunday when we go to church but starve during the week! We eat three meals a day to satisfy our physical body but except for a tiny crumb here and there, we starve our spirit!
What about our children? We wouldn't think of not feeding them three nutritious meals a day but how often do we feed their spirits? This is the most important part of our children. We must feed them God's Word at least every morning and evening, as we start and end the day. They can't grow "strong in spirit" on anything less (Luke 1:80).
May God save us from the "Failure to Thrive" diagnosis over our lives. And please, may God save mothers from being guilty of putting their children in a position of "Failure to Thrive" because we starve their spiritual beings.
As mothers, we are the feeders of the whole man-body, soul, and spirit.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
520 Hits
It is a very important aspect of parenting to build a hedge around our family and home. Truthfully, it is God who builds the hedge, but we have to do our part. God built a hedge around Job's home. Satan was not able to touch Job until God removed the protective hedge He put around him. Satan tells God in Job 1:10: "Hast not Thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?"
God was able to build a hedge around Job, his family, and everything he owned because:
1) He was blameless and upright (a man of integrity).
2) He feared the Lord.
3) He turned away from all evil. Even allowing a little compromise of sin in our home gives an opening for enemy to come through the hedge.
4) He rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings for his children. In other words, he interceded before God for his children.
Job 1:5 says he did this CONTINUALLY! He was most concerned that his children could have sinned and cursed God in their hearts and therefore He interceded continually on their behalf.
I believe that you can build a hedge around your family as you and your husband pray daily and earnestly for your children. We can't afford not to. If we don't pray for our home and children, who else will? There are so many areas where Satan can subtly creep into our homes.
Sadly, in many homes today, there is such a spirit of worldliness that the devil fits right in. In fact, he feels quite comfortable. There's not much chance for God to build a protective hedge around the home because the devil has already come in!
May you and your husband be protecting parents who daily pray the hedge of protection around your family.
Love from Nancy Campbell
564 Hits
I love the different words God uses to describe our children. God loves to reveal His plans to us by pictures. Psalm 128:3 tells us that our children are like "olive plants" sitting all around our table. The Hebrew word for "olive" is "zayith" and means "an olive (as yielding illuminating oil)." Among many other uses the olive was used as oil for the lamps to light up their homes. It was also used to light the golden candlestick in the holy place of the tabernacle.
Think about it. God gives you your children to light up your home. John 1:9 says that Christ lights each one who comes into this world. As we feed this light with God's Word, our children will become more and more filled with light, not only to bring more light into our home, but to one day take the light of God to a dark and deceived world.
Every child you embrace from the loving hand of God is another illuminating light to light up this world. In fact, the only way God can bring His light into this world is through His people (Matthew 5:14-16). The more children we bring into the world, the more light of God we bring in to push back the darkness an deception of this world system. Don't deprive the world of God's light by saying No to His children.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
432 Hits
Proverbs 26:8 tells us that to bind a stone in a sling is as bad as giving honor to a fool! A stone in a sling is not meant to be bound up but to go forth to hit the target. It goes forth to slay the enemy. In the same way, we are foolish to bind up God's truth and hide it. God intends His words to go out from our mouths to accomplish God's plans and purposes (Isaiah 55:11). The spoken word has great power. God created the world with His Word. Many times, we hold back divine miracles from happening in our lives because we are too shy, too afraid, or too lazy to speak out the word of the Lord.
Let's not hide the precious stones of God's truths in our slings of ignorance, intimidation, fear, and shyness. Read God's Words to your family daily. Speak the words God puts on your heart to your children and to those you come in contact with. Open your mouth and pray for your children and others when they are hurting, either emotionally or physically. Speak the powerful name of Jesus to resist the devil. Never hold back. Never keep these stones in your sling. Shoot them forth.
Psalm 107:20: "He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions." He didn't hide His word but SENT IT FORTH! Miracles happened when He sent forth His word. Miracles will happen to your family and to others when you open your mouth too!
God works in verbs, not nouns. Here are some of the things Psalm 147:2-20 tells us that God does:
He builds up Jerusalem,
He gathers together the outcasts of Israel,
He heals the broken-hearted,
He binds up their wounds,
He lifts up the meek,
He strengthens the bars of your gates,
He blesses your children in your home,
He makes peace in your home,
He sends forth His commandments upon the earth,
He sends out His word, and He declares His word to Israel.
He wants to do these beautiful healing works through you in your family too. He wants you to get out these God-given stones and send them out to bind up, strengthen, bless, make peace, and declare the words of the Lord.
Don't hold back divine miracles. Our children are also like stones to send forth from the sling to defeat the enemy. We must not bind them up but sharpen and polish them to prepare them for the day they will go forth from our home.
Many blessings, Nancy Campbell
438 Hits
How can your husband value you more than precious jewels, when your life is One Big Complaint?
~ Serene Allison
476 Hits
A mother wrote me, saying, "I love all the positivity about motherhood I read here, but it seems to outweigh the blurbs about loving wifehood. As a young mama who tries to keep my priorities of God, hubby, and children in that order, do you have any thoughts?"
It's a very good question so I will address it.
Yes, it is our privilege and responsibility to be a cheerful, encouraging, grateful, sweet, and submissive wife. However, it's hard to have this kind of an attitude if you are not happy about your role as a mother which takes up the biggest part of your day. If you have a negative attitude about every little problem, you are sighing and unhappy, and then complaining about everything as soon as your husband gets in the door, can you image how he feels? He'll be depressed and he won't want you to have any more children.
However, when you understand that you were created for this high calling, that you have been commissioned by the Ruler of the Universe to nurture these precious souls He has given into your hand, that you are employed in the greatest career in the nation, and you are embracing and loving motherhood, you'll have a different attitude.
Yes, you'll sometimes feel overwhelmed and wonder how you can get through the day. But, instead of sighing, you'll rejoice, and you'll confess, "Thank you, Lord, for this great task you have given me. I am working for You and for Eternity! I thank you that you are my Strength. You are my Joy. Hallelujah!"
You'll be absolutely amazed how your confession of truth changes your attitude. And when you have a smile on your face, your children will get a smile on their face, and guess what, your husband will get a smile on his face when he comes home! Praise the Lord!
Embracing motherhood is a pre-requisite to being a joyful and happy wife for your husband. Just do the best you can. You won't get everything done in a day you would like to do. Just do what you can with joy. All your husband wants is a happy, joyful, and smiling wife.
When you are happy, he'll be happy. And when he's happy, you'll be happy!
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
464 Hits
Worry? Why worry? What can worry do?
It never keeps a trouble from overtaking you,
It gives you indigestion and sleepless hours at night,
And fills with gloom the days, however fair and bright.
It puts a frown upon the face and sharpness to the tone;
We're unfit to live with others and unfit to live alone.
Worry? Why worry? What can worry do?
It never keeps a trouble from overtaking you.
Pray? Why pray? What can praying do?
Praying really changes things, arranges life anew,
It's good for your digestion, gives peaceful sleep at night,
And fills the grayest, gloomiest day with rays of glowing light.
It puts a smile upon your face, the love note in your tone;
Makes you fit to live with others and fit to live alone.
Pray? Why pray? It brings God down from heaven
To live and work with you.
~Unknown
470 Hits
Are you bold to speak the truth when deception and lies are being proclaimed? Or do you find it easy to stay silent because you feel too timid or you are concerned what people think of you?I believe it is a time to rise up in boldness.
Proverbs 28:1 says: “The righteous are as BOLD AS A LION.”
If we are not bold to speak the truth when we are not even facing persecution, how we will stand for truth in more difficult times? Our freedoms are quickly being taken away. Foundational truths are being lost. God’s timeless truths for marriage and family are trampled on. The NWO and the WEF along with the cabal want total tyranny of our lives.
Are you still silent? Or are you being a voice?
In a wedding ceremony the minister asks the question, “If anyone has any reason why these two should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.” If someone had a concern, it was their only chance to speak! I believe that this is our last opportunity. If we don’t speak now, we may not have another chance.
Imagine if ALL God-fearing families began to boldly speak the truth! Let’s start! Soak your children in God’s Word and His truth. Speak seeds of truth wherever you go. Never let a deception go unchallenged. Ever. Come on, let’s start being bold for God and His truth. Let’s hold up the banner. This may be our only chance.
Many blessings,
Nancy
Check out these Scriptures:
Acts 1:8; 4:13, 18-20, 29-31; 5:28-29; 9:27; 13:45-46 14:2-3; 2 Corinthians 4:13; Ephesians 5:11 and Philippians 1:14.
485 Hits
The trying days, the sighing days, the days when things go wrong,
The hurry days, the worry days, the days when you’re off song,
The busy days, the dizzy days that you go rushing madly through –
Trying to catch up on all the jobs you have to do.
The trying days, the flying days– the clock goes twice its pace,
But when you start to feel you are competing in a race–
Slow down for a moment, let your tangled thoughts unwind.
You’ll get through in half the time if you’ve a quiet mind.
~ Patience Strong
477 Hits
Many years ago I remember seeing this cartoon. The mother was sitting at the table with the newspaper spread out before her. The home was in a mess, the toys were all over the floor, and the children were running wild! The husband came in the door and said, "What on earth are you doing?""I'm looking for a job," she replied. "I need a vacation!"
I'm sure there are times when you felt just like that! It's not an easy career to be a mother and efficiently run a home. But that doesn't mean to say we give up on the job. It is challenging because it is the greatest career in the nation. You, dear mother, are determining the destiny of the nation. You are a military training institute, training arrows for God's army. It's a high priority job.
Paul, the apostle, faced constant afflictions, infirmities, persecutions, beatings, stonings, perils, weariness, painfulness, hunger, and the burden of the church. You are not facing all that. What did Paul do? Did he give up? No.
What was his confession? "We faint not" (2 Corinthians 4:1). Make this your confession too: "I will not give up."
Other translations say:
“We never give up.”
“We never lose heart.”
“We do not become discouraged.”
“We do not play the coward.”
“Nothing can daunt us.”
Choose which one you want to say as you go around your home today.
And I love Paul’s confession in 2 Corinthians 6:10 JBP): “Always ‘going through it’ yet never ‘going under.’”
Stick to your great career. You are doing the greatest job in the universe.
Have a wonderful day,
Love from Nancy Campbell
Painting: Joe Bowler, New York, 1928
459 Hits
Dear mother, are you feeling overwhelmed today? You feel you have too much to do. How can you fit it all in? How can you keep up with the housework? How can you effectively homeschool all these children around you?Well, here’s a little secret for you. You can’t do it all on your own. When you trust in your own resources, you’ll feel like giving up. But Jesus wants you to come to Him.
In Matthew 11:28-30 He says: “COME UNTO ME, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Jesus wants you to yoke with him. When the oxen are yoked together they are working. They are not yoked when the are resting. And yet Jesus fays you’ll find rest even when you are working and have lots to do when you yoke with Him. Instead of rushing around in your own strength, getting all steamed up, upsetting your children, and killing the heavenly atmosphere in your home, yoke to Jesus. He is with you. He is in you. He is your Strength and your Rest. When you trust in Him instead of yourself, you’ll be amazed how things change.
And remember, you don’t have to get everything done in the day that you think you need to. I have always written a list for every day of everything I need to do but I don’t think I have ever crossed off everything on my list for one day of my life! I used to complain that there weren’t enough hours in the day. And then I realized wasn’t going against God’s plan. He knows how many hours we need. He has given us just what we need. And if we can’t fit everything in, well, don’t worry. There’s always another day.
And—your children don’t have to finish every curriculum you set for them for the day. Learning is far more than getting through all the paces. It’s actually learning something new and remembering it. Often that is far more beneficial than a lot of information they’ll never remember.
When you yoke with Jesus, your burden becomes light instead of overwhelming.
I already remember a great man of God who always ended his letters (people wrote letters in those days) with the words, “Restfully busy.”
Have a restfully busy day today,
Nancy Campbell
476 Hits
God’s word is true from the beginning and from the beginning God’s word is true!“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:16).
Do you want a GOOD life? Do you want a SOUL RESTFUL life? Then choose God’s way which is the old way.
444 Hits
Here's a lovely quote by Marianne Neifert, which an Above Rubies reader sent to me. I'm sure you will identify with these same feelings . . ."If I hadn't had children, I probably would have had more money and material things. I probably would have gone more places, gotten more sleep, pampered myself more. My life would have been much more boring and predictable. As a result of being a parent, I have laughed harder, cried more often. I have worried more and hurried more. I've had less sleep, but somehow, I've had more fun. I've learned more, grown more. My heart has ached harder, and I've loved to a capacity beyond my imagination. I've given more of myself, but I've derived more meaning from life."
Isn't it true? We experience the delirious joys of motherhood and also the aches and pains of motherhood, but our lives are richer for them all. How much we would have missed out on if we hadn't been blessed with each child God has given us. And we get more than we start with. As each of our children marry and have children, we receive the blessing of grandchildren! That’s unbeatable! And then great-grandchildren. That’s even more amazing!
Dear young mothers, forget sighing and grumbling about all your frustrations. These precious days with your little ones go too quickly. As I look back on raising our children, do I regret that I didn't get involved in more activities outside the home or further my career? Oh no. I regret every moment I didn't spend with them. I never felt I had enough time to pour into them all I wanted to before they were gone and flown the nest.
Treasure every moment with the children God has given you.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
Photo: When my three oldest children were little. It is like one blink of my eye since those days. They are now in their late fifties! From left to right: Stephen, Wesley, and Evangeline.
483 Hits
Yesterday we talked about women being saved through childbearing and motherhood. But why? We have to look at the preceding verse: “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman, because she was FULLY DECEIVED, fell into transgression (1 Timothy 2:14 (NET).” The NET commentary explains that because two compound verbs are used for “deceived” in this verse that there is a stronger meaning intended for the second verb.Here are a few more translations:
Way’s translation: “It was entirely through her being UTTERLY DECEIVED that woman has become involved in transgression.”
Wuest’s translation: ¨Adam was not deceived, but the woman, having been COMPLETELY HOODWINKED, has fallen into transgression.”
Weymouth’s translation: “Adam was not deceived, but his wife was THOROUGHLY DECEIVED, and so became involved in transgression.”
But then the Bible says: “Notwithstanding she shall be saved . . .: (KJV) or “Yet she will be saved” or “but she will be saved. We learned yesterday that we will be saved (from this deception) through our embracing of motherhood.
The NET commentary goes on to say that this saving or delivering “was from some of the devastating effects of the ROLE REVRSAL that took place in Eden.” Ouch. We are now living in a society of role reversals which is a slap in the face to God.
May God save us from this complete deception of the role reversal. No wonder it is called an utter deception. Pray that we will be kept from this delusion by a biding in our motherhood role.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
Painting: Fine Art Giclee print.
462 Hits
This is what the Bible says: “Women, however, will be saved through CHILDBEARING, if they continue in faith, love, holiness, with self-control” (1 Timothy 2:15 BSB). Other translations say that “she will be saved through MOTHERHOOD.”What does this mean? The word childbearing is “teknogonia” in the Greek. It is not speaking of only the process of childbirth but of the embracing of childbearing and the duties of motherhood.
The New English Translation commentary says: ¨”It is not through active teaching and ruling activities that Christian women will be saved, but through faithfulness to their proper role, exemplified in motherhood. In this view ‘teknogonia’ is seen as a synecdoche in which childrearing and other activities of motherhood are involved.”
This means that not only childbirth, but the birthing of children, putting them to the breast, nursing the baby, nurturing and comforting the baby, feeding, teaching, training, and disciplining the children as they grow, right through to adulthood. This is motherhood.
Embracing this role saves us from deception. It is not talking about our salvation through Christ (through the Christ child for that would eliminate men) but the context of the passage is to be saved from deception. When a woman goes out from the ultimate plan God has for her, leaves off bearing children, and vacates her home, she becomes open to the lies of the enemy. (I will talk about the deception tomorrow).
To be saved is such a powerful word. The word is “sozo” It not only means to be saved, but to be “delivered, healed, preserved, protected, and made whole!” God gives this wonderful promise to women who embrace their mothering role.
The NASB tells us that “women will be PRESERVED through the bearing of children.” Isn’t that
is a beautiful promise?
Many blessings to you today,
Nancy Campbell
Painting: Custom Portrait From Photo Portrait Painting Children Portrait - Etsy
418 Hits
Each Friday evening at our shabbat meal my husband reads Provers 31. He usually reads in the King James Version but the other night he decided to read from a different translation for a change. We chose the Knox translation. We got to verse 29 and I weas arrested: “Her husband is loud in her praise.” He praises her with these words: “Unrivalled art thou among all the women that have enriched their homes.”I love how this passage encourages all the women who embrace their home life and live virtuously in their homes. This word “virtuously” (KJV) which is also used in verse 10, is the Hebrew word “chayil” and means “to be strong and valiant.” It is usually used in the context of an army and warfare. It is the same word that is used to describe the mighty men of valor.
The “above rubies” woman is not a little weakling. She must be strong and courageous to manage her home and family well. She must be strong to fight against the subtleties of the enemy who brings his temptations into her home and seeks to dim the atmosphere of Heaven in her home. She must be strong in her convictions to stand against the deceptions of this age, to embrace her womanly anointing with her head held high, to live in the truth in a society that lies in the trough of deception, to be knowledgeable of God’s ways, and train her children to be strong in the truth.
But I also love this phrase in the Knox translations of those who “enrich their homes.” What a lovely vision to have ladies. We wake up every morning with thoughts, ideas, and visions of how to enrich our homes today. The word “enrich” means “to improve or enhance the quality or value of something.”
Can you think of how you could improve your relationship with your husband today. It’s such fun to think of another idea of how you can shower your husband with love, isn’t it? What little surprise, love note, or poem will you have waiting for him when he comes home this evening?
Can you think of something special to do that will enhance your home life today? Some new surprise for the children. I’m not talking about monetarily, but some special thing you can do together. Maybe some lovely or different thing you can you do as you all sit around the table for supper tonight. You could even add a lovely tablecloth instead of sitting at a naked table!
Make it your goal to be an enriching wife. An enriching mother. An enriching homemaker.
But there’s more. This Scripture speaks of all the women who enrich their homes, but there’s one who excels them all. Who ascends above them all. Or as the Young’s iteral translations says: “Many are the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone UP ABOVE them all.”
Is this your testimony.
Loads of love from Nancy Campbell
Painting: Laurits Regner Tuxen (9 December 1853 – 21 November 1927), a Danish painter.
430 Hits
Isn't it amazing to think that Jesus chose His own mother? He was the Creator of His mother. The angel who came to her called Mary "highly favored" and three times she is referred to as "blessed art thou among women" (Luke 1:28, 42, and 48).Catholics have canonized Mary but protestants tend to ignore her. Although she was not divine but human just like us, she must have been very special. Let's face it, Jesus Christ who was God chose her. Some women are just born with a nicer temperament than others (some are more sweeter and others more prickly), but I am sure Marry was one with a beautiful disposition, especially to be THE chosen one. A. W. Tozer writes of Jesus, "Was there anything lovelier than to be the Creator of His own mother, to have made the very body that gave Him protection and bore Him at last into the world?"
There must have been times when she got angry, became frustrated, and gave into the flesh, but I am sure she had a more beautiful nature than I was ever born with. I am sure she was sweet-spirited and filled with compassion, patience, and longsuffering. We know she was humble and that is the most precious attribute God looks for (Luke 1:48 52, Psalm 34:18; 51:17; Isaiah 66:2; and 1 Peter 5:5).
She was a busy mother like us with many children. No, she was not a virgin all her life. After giving birth to Jesus she gave birth to more children. She bore the weight of raising an average large family of at least seven children. There could have been ten or more as the Bible does not state the number of his sisters, but it mentions them in plural (Matthew 1:25 and Mark 6:3).
I cannot say "in exactly the same way" as Mary, but it is a truth that God has also chosen you to be the mother of your children. Our Omniscient God who knows the beginning from the end, who knows not only what you are thinking right now but what you will be thinking this time next year, and who has known from eternity every child He has given you and will give you CHOSE YOU to be their mother. Yes, even the mother of that "difficult" one.
Because God chose YOU, you are blessed by God. Because God chose YOU, your children are blessed. Because God chose YOU, you are the one to mother your children. God never intended you to give them to someone else to care for while you do other things.
Mother your children today with the awesome understanding that you have chosen by God for this greatest of all works. And because you have been chosen, God is backing you all the way. He will never leave you or forsake you.
God bless you, "chosen one."
Nancy Campbell
469 Hits