Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Love from Nancy Campbell

Painting by Puuung

Deuteronomy 32:46-47 says: "Command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law. For it is not a vain thing for you; because IT IS YOUR LIFE." Did you get that? It’s your life. Stop thinking about another life you could have. This is the life God has given to you right now. Embrace it. Rejoice in it.

Your greatest vocation in life is to diligently mother and teach your children in the ways and commandments of the Lord. It's a full-time career! And not one minute with your children will be wasted. It is not a vain thing. It has eternal value. Every day you are not only preparing children to impact this world, but you are molding them for eternity.

Have a GREAT LIFE today with your children. It’s your attitude that will determine the outcome!

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

Ephesians 6:6,7 tells us even more specifically: “Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God FROM THE HEART; With good will doing service, AS TO THE LORD, and not to men.” God, the King of the universe is our Employer.

Remember who you are working for, dear mother. You are doing an eternal work and will receive an eternal reward.

That sets the tone for our attitude, doesn’t it?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

This quote is both true and false. We do not train our children to think they can do whatever they want to do, because many choices can be selfish or unbiblical choice that would ruin their lives. However, we encourage them to dream and think outside the box and that God can enable them by the power and leading of His Spirit to do things that no one has ever done before. Things that will bless others and advance the kingdom of God in earth. #mothering #influenceofmotherhood #powerofmotherhood #discernment #aboverubies

Sometimes we go about . . .! Sometimes aimlessly. Sometimes fretfully. Instead, let’s go about doing GOOD THINGS. The Bible tells us how “Jesus went about . . .” How did He go about?

Matthew 9:35: “Jesus went about . . . teaching . . . and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.” This is a huge part of your mothering career—teaching your children, proclaiming the gospel of God’s kingdom into their lives, and healing—healing sore toes and scraped knees (and sometimes bigger things) and their emotions and souls and spirits. It’s a full-time job.

Acts 10:38: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about DOING GOOD, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

We also need the power of the Holy Spirit with us as we mother. We need God with us. As you begin each new mothering day, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you anew with His anointing power. Ask God to be with you and fill your home with His presence.

Enjoy a wonderful day of doing good things.

Love from Nancy Campbell

I read this morning in Psalm 119:160 (TPT): “The sum total of all your words adds up to absolute truth, and every one of your righteous decrees is everlasting.” For ourselves and for our children, God‘s Word should be the blueprint and the plumbline for everything we believe. God’s Word always has the final say.

If Jesus said, I believe it,
His Word cannot lie.
If it’s written in the Bible,
I’ll believe it ‘till I die.
Though the mountains be removed,
And cast in to the sea,
God’s Word will last forever,
Throughout eternity.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

To truly educate your children, you must give them the right foundation, which is GOD-THINKING!

Northrup Frye said, "The Bible . . . should be taught so early and so thoroughly that it sinks straight to the bottom of the mind, where everything that comes along later can settle on it." How early is early? From the womb. As a nursing baby. As a child. Throughout life.

Make sure your children have the right foundation. And lay the foundation strongly.

Love from Nancy Campbell

If you haven’t, here is a simple acrostic about mothering that you could use for your Mission Statement. Pit it up in your kitchen to remind you.

M Mothering with passion!
I Inviting God into every situation I face today!
S Serving with joy, even in the routine and mundane!
S Saturating my husband and children with love and
encouragement!
I Intercepting the devil's attacks with prayer and praise!
O Overflowing with joy and thankfulness!
N Nurturing my children with God's anointing!

“Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of being part of the greatest mission on earth. Amen.”

Love to you today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: The Family Album by Charles Edouard Frere

What an amazing miracle–the birth of a child!
We stand in awe--and God has a smile!
He’s created a life that’s never lived before,
A life that is special, unique, with gifts galore,

She’s a gift to her parents and a gift to the world
As we wait for her destiny to be unfurled.
She’s a budding life that will come to full bloom,
And of course, her parents are “over the moon.”

But the greatest wonder of all we see
Is to know she was born for eternity!
She’s not just a life, but an eternal soul,
Born to embrace a heavenly goal.

Oh, the wonder and joy we have as a wife
To bring into this world an eternal life.
Praise God for this privilege, and for this babe
Whom He has lovingly and intricately made.

~ Nancy Campbell

If your little one is a boy, replace “he” for “she.”

In the midst of the whirlwind of life all around you, your soul can live in rest. They hymn says,

There is a place of quiet rest,
Near to the heart of God,
A place where sin cannot molest,
Near to the heart of God.

He calls your home a resting place. Proverbs 24:15 says: “Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place.” God doesn’t want anything or anyone to spoil your resting place, your home. Guard against it happening.

I read about a man of God who used to sign his letters, “Restfully busy.”

Facing all we have to accomplish today, do you think we could live a restfully busy life instead of a frantically busy life?

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: “Mother and baby” by Gertrude Käsebier, 1900

Do you feel as though you are overworked and underpaid? Sometimes you can feel like this as a mother. But don’t despair, you will receive your pay.

But let’s talk about one thing at a time. Firstly, the work! Yes, mothering is work. Hard work. Sleepless nights. Never letting up. Always available. It’s real labor. The word the Bible uses for labor in the New Testament is “kopos” and it means “toil which reduces the strength, labor, trouble, weariness.” Do you relate? I know you sometimes feel so weary at the end of the day. Praise God, He gives His beloved sleep. He gives us the night to be refreshed.

Can I encourage you not to complain about work? Work is good for the body and good for the soul. We accomplish things when we work. We become creative when we work. We think of new ways of doing things. We get new ideas.

Get a good attitude about work. Confess, “I love work.” When you work with a positive attitude or sing while you work, you are healed and uplifted. If you do it with a despondent and complaining attitude, you’ll feel week. Everything hinges on our attitude. And your children will learn the right attitude to work. One of the important things we do as mother is teach our children the value of work. How to work hard. How to work efficiently. How to love work.

It saddens my heart to see the lazy attitude in many young people today. They don’t know how to get “stuck in.” When they work, they do a shoddy job. They only do what they must. They don’t go the second mile. They don’t do the extra. We must prepare our children to face the real world. We teach them to arrive at their work before the allotted time and never leave on the dot of 5.00 pm! Always give that extra!

You see, we show our love by our work. 1 Thessalonians 1:3 calls it a “labor of love.” And God never forgets our “labor of love” (Hebrews 6:10).

The most important thing to remember is that each one of us will be rewarded according to our labor. God notices our labor.

1 Corinthians 3:8: “Every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

As you toil and labor with the joy of the Lord in your heart, not one tiny bit of your labor will be wasted. God is watching it all. 1 Corinthians 15:58 encourages us to be “ALWAYS ABOUNDING in the work of the Lord (which is our mothering mandate God has given to us), forasmuch as ye know that your labor IS NOT IN VAIN in the Lord.” The NLT says: “for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” You are not useless, dear mother.

You are not receiving a weekly paycheck for your powerful work in the home. That would be just too shameful. You are not working for wages as a hired laborer. You are doing something far greater. You are working for an eternal reward. Far greater than monetary value. And it’s going to be big. You better believe it.

If you are still feeling sorry for yourself, read how Paul worked for the Lord. In 2 Corinthians 112: 23-28 he mentions 30 different areas he suffered and labored for the Lord including “weariness and painfulness.” And he gloried in them all.

Be encouraged. Much love from Nancy Campbell

Painting: “Spring Wash Day” by Trisha Romance.

DO YOU WANT TO HEAR SOME GREAT STORIES? WELCOME TO OUR LADIES LUNCHEON!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/…/727994-episode-3-welcome-to-ou…

Recently I enjoyed a lovely Ladies Luncheon with my daughters, daughters-in-law, sister, and sister-in-law. At our table, we always discuss and share stories. You’ll listen to an amazing story today. It’s something I don’t think would happen in hospitals today.

You can also catch up on the last two episodes and enjoy all future episodes. They are sent out each Tuesday morning at 6.00 am CST.

The following places are where you can pick up the podcast, so far.
Above Rubies website:
www.aboverubies.org

uzzsprout:
http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com

iTunes:
https://itunes.apple.com/…/from-our-home-to-yo…/id1397648388

Googleplay:
https://play.google.com/music/listen…

Advanced users looking for your RSS feed . . . your quest is over:
https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/183665.rss

Be encouraged by the practical advice and rich revelation from God’s Word about your great role as wife, mother, homemaker, and nation changer.

Love from Nancy Campbell

PICTURE: With my daughters, Pearl and Serene. This is not at the Luncheon I am talking about in the Podcast. We were too busy talking and listening, laughing and crying to take pictures that day. Here we are making a luncheon for a THM YouTube. I am sure you know that Pearl and Serene of TRIM HEALTHY MAMA are my daughters. How blessed I am. I am sure you already listen to their Poddy.

On Saturday we hosted a lovely wedding at our home. Colin married the young couple and spoke about the power of the cross working in our marriages. It is the message of the cross that teaches us how to build a marriage that lasts.

I often think that if we only had one Scripture in the whole of the Bible to teach us how to live as married couples, we would find blessing and success from Philippians 2:5-8 (NASB): “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.”

What an attitude! And we are to have the same attitude. Not hanging on to our own rights but laying them down for others.

2 Corinthians 5:15 always challenges me: “And he (Jesus Christ) died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Jesus showed us the way in laying down His life for us. We no longer live to ourselves, but to Him. And we show that we live to Him when we lay down our life to live for others. This works out in the one who is closest to us--our husband.

We have the answer. Now, it’s just putting it into practice, not in our own strength, but through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Blessings to you today,

Nancy Campbell

It’s not us that finds the patience to endlessly cook, clean, and care, but Christ in us. It’s not us that finds the strength to get up after another broken night, but Christ in us. It is not us that finds the joy in every moment, but Christ in us.

When I struggle, when I fail, I look to the cross and know that I am not alone. My burdens are carried in the body of Christ and, because of His death and resurrection, He has given us His Holy Spirit to enable us to do all that He has called us to. Whatever place we are in on our mothering journey we can call on the One who saves and He will be faithful to show us the way.

When we model this for our children and they see Christ in us, they will be more likely to desire Him. When they see us broken, but seeking Christ, this will be their “go to” response in adult life. The message of the cross is lived out in the daily lives of Christians, who despite the difficulties of their circumstances, desire Christ beyond everything, and here we find our strength.”

Thanks, Vicki. Did you get her underlying message? THE CROSS CHANGES EVERYTHING!

~ Nancy

What is the preeminent theme of your home? In some homes it is sport, or education, or perhaps being realistic today, social media! We reveal what is preeminent by the time and number of hours we spend on it each day.

However, if we are a Christian family, a God-fearing family, shouldn’t the central theme of our home be the cross of Jesus Christ? The cross of Jesus Christ and His precious blood that He poured out for us is the central theme of the Bible. Shouldn’t it be our central theme also? Or do we rarely think about it or talk about it?

Paul said in Galatians 6:14: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” He also confessed: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain . . . That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings . . . “ (Philippians 1:21 and 3:10).

How can we make His cross more predominant in our homes? We draw closer to His cross as we spend time in His presence and in His Word. Not only individually but gathering our families into His presence each morning and evening. This is surely the least amount of time we can give as a family each day to honor Him. As we open God’s Word and read it to our families, we are brought back to what is truly important. We are drawn to the most important theme in the world—our great redemption through the cross and the blood of Jesus.

We also do this as we pray. Each day at our Family Devotions each one around our table prays. When it comes to my turn to pray, I pray about different needs, especially as I take two different cards from our Prayer Boxes each day. But there is one thing I do before I intercede for the needs of the world and that is to thank Jesus Christ for the cross and for my redemption. I cannot let a day go by with thanking Him.

The whole of the Old Testament led up to Jesus shedding His blood upon the cross. Every morning and every evening the priests sacrificed the lamb to atone for their sins, pointing to THE LAMB OF GOD, Jesus Christ, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. No longer do we need sacrifices, because Jesus died ONCE and for all for our redemption.

Now we look back to Calvary. I love to look back in gratitude, thankfulness, and worship for my great redemption. I am brought back to the cross as I thank Him every morning and evening. If they could spend all that time with sacrifices each day, surely the least I can do is look back in gratefulness and praise.

We also bring our families back to the cross as we sing worship songs and hymns about the cross of Jesus. We love to sing at our Family Devotions, but you can play these songs in your home all day long. Some families love to sing the current worship songs. Some like to sing the hymns. There are so many wonderful songs to remind us of the cross. If you don’t know them, look them up on the Internet and play the tunes so you can sing along with them. We have hymn books and song sheets which we choose every morning and evening as we sing praises to the Lord. I will list a few choices below.

What are some other ways you keep the cross of Jesus central in your home. I’d love to hear from you.

Blessings to you today,

Nancy Campbell

A few samples of current worship songs about the cross:
The cross has the final word (Cody Carnes)
Lead me to the cross (Brooke Ligertwood
At the cross (Chris Tomlin)
The power of the cross (Keith and Kristyn Getty
Nailed to the cross (Rend Collective)
Your royal blood (Rend Collective)

A few samples of hymns about the cross.
Are you washed in the blood?
Jesus keep me near the cross
When I survey the wondrous cross
The way of the cross leads home
And can it be that I should gain?
There is a fountain filled with blood
Nothing but the blood of Jesus
Alas! And did my Savior bleed
Blessed be the fountain of blood (Whiter than the snow)
I will sing of my Redeemer
There was One who was willing
Redeemed
Lead me to Calvary

Dear mothers, don’t think of getting by with the minimum you have to do. Embrace motherhood with all your heart. Give it all you’ve got. Hone your art because mothering is an art. Just as breastfeeding is an art. Birthing is an art. Homemaking is an art. We can be average, or we can excel.

What is the testimony of the Proverbs 31 woman? Proverbs 31:29 says: “Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou EXCELLEST them all.”

The Hebrew word for “excellest” is “alah.” It is often translated “arise up,” “let us go up,” ascended,” “climbed up,” “exalted.” As you can see, it’s not below average or average, but over the top.

1 Corinthians 15:58 exhorts to “ABOUND in the work of the Lord.” The “work” (notice that it is “work,” not play) that God has given us to do is mothering and training the next generation to be godly young men and women who will fill this earth with God’s glory. How do we do this work?

The word is “abound.” The Greek word is “perisseuo” and it means “to EXCEL more than, to exceed, to superabound, to be over the top, over and above, overflowing, abundance.”

Don’t stand for the status quo. Go beyond the necessary as you become the greatest wife your husband could ever dream about. As you mother and train your children. As you stand watch over your home and guard it from the sneaky entrances of the enemy. As you manage your home efficiently. As you prepare meals for your family.

Be the best!

Blessings to you today,

Nancy Campbell

The Passion translation says: “For he blesses us with rain from heaven and seasons of fruitful harvests, and he nourishes us with food to meet our needs. He satisfies our lives, and EUPHORIA fills our hearts.” Is this translation getting a little carried away? No. The Greek word for “gladness” in the KJV is “euphrosune.”

Euphoria is associated with the hormone oxytocin and it is well known that we release oxytocin (joy, happiness, and love) when we sit at a table to eat and fellowship with others.

Therefore, dear mother, as you think about what you will prepare for your family this evening, don’t only think about their bodies. Think about their hearts. Think about how to make your table a place that will draw your family to the table. Think about things you could talk about at the table that will release joy, laughter, and happiness. Think about how you could enjoy a little euphoria. Maybe you could ask each one to share the funniest thing that has happened to them this last week.

As persons made of body, soul, and spirit we hunger for more than physical food. We hunger for nourishment for our soul. David confesses in Psalm 63:5: “My SOUL shall be satisfied with marrow and fatness.”

He’s talking about his inner man. He wants to satisfy it with marrow. Do you know what marrow is? Have you ever sucked marrow out of a bone? Most people haven’t today, but we grew up doing this. There’s nothing like marrow. We all competed to get the bone with the marrow. It is so rich and satisfying. But we need marrow for our souls as well as our bodies. Psalm 107:9 says: He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

And our spirits hunger too. Does your spirit cry out to be fed? I long for spiritual food. Don’t let the spirits of your children starve each day. Make sure you give them a nourishing portion of God’s Word at your table this evening.

Much love,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: The Dining Room (oil on canvas), Ryder, Susan (b.1944) / Private Collection / Courtesy of Manya Igel Fine Arts, London / Bridgeman Images

Although I am sure you’ll have more around your table than this table shows.