Why not invite some folks home to eat with you after church today? Your Sunday will so much more enjoyable and edifying.
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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.
"What are you accomplishing with those little children in your home?" Have you been ridiculed by such words as these? David, who later became the great king of Israel, was also derided by similar words. His father asked him to take food to his brothers who were engaged in battle with the Philistines and when he arrived he heard the challenge of the huge giant, Goliath to fight with one of the Israelis. No one was offering--except David.
However, David's brother scoffed, "With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?" His brother didn't think he was doing anything worthwhile. He didn't understand the heart of a shepherd. A heart that is both tender and brave. Dear mother, you are also a shepherdess to your precious little flock. And let me tell you, your mothering is not insignificant, either. As David was out in the wilderness caring for sheep, God was preparing him to one day be King of Israel. In fact he chose him "from following the ewes great with young" (Psalm 78:71-72). God is also working greatly in you.
Why was David the one who was not afraid of the giant? Because out with those "few sheep in the wilderness" he was learning how to face the enemy! He slew a lion and a bear with his bare hands. He was ready for this giant. You too, dear mother, face challenges and onslaughts from the enemy in your day to day mothering. But, you are learning how to overcome the enemy and how to have the victory. You are growing stronger in God each day as you shepherd your "few sheep in the wilderness." More and more you will become a dangerous threat to the enemy.
The devil fears home-building, children-loving, devil-destroying mothers!
Nancy Campbell
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It is inherent within us to love home. Yes, I know there are many women who don't want to be home with their children and would much rather be out of the home. But this is mental conditioning by our humanistic society-- programmed through the media and the education system. It is not inherent.
As soon as Eve opened her eyes to life she was in her home, the God-ordained place for women to make a holy sanctuary for God and a safe nest to raise and train their children. Micah 2:9 (GNT) talks about women being driven from the "HOMES THEY LOVE." It goes on to say, "You have ROBBED THEIR CHILDREN OF MY BLESSINGS forever."
It is God's blessing for children to be raised with their mother in the home--and especially when the mother LOVES BEING IN HER HOME WITH HER CHILDREN. Children are robbed from their God-given blessings when they are left with alternative caregivers and taken away from the home.
Enjoy your home today,
Nancy Campbell
Painting by Tasha Tudor
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We live in a world that is morally warped and spiritually perverted. That's why we need the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. That's why we need to constantly yield to the Holy Spirit throughout the day.
1 John 5:19 (GNT) says: "We know that we belong to God even though the whole world is under the rule of the Evil One." Being born again is only the beginning of our salvation. God's purpose is to conform us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29) and to transform us by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). It is possible to have a "born again" heart, but a "humanistic" mind. It is a sad fact that most Christians think humanistically for we live in an unbelieving society and are indoctrinated by a godless and humanistic education system. The only way we can get our minds to catch up with our hearts is to be renewed by the Word of God and the Spirit of God.
Do you think like God thinks? Or like society around you? Often we don't even know that we think like society because we are not filled with God's Word which exposes the deceptions. God’s Word is the lie detector.
What about our children? Are they educated by our public education system? If so, they will be daily and subtly programmed to think oppositely to God's Word. It amazes me that Christian parents are quite happy for their children's minds to be daily "renewed" in humanistic ideologies. Shouldn't it be our consuming passion for our children to be "renewed" in the ways of God so they will be confirmed to the image of Jesus? They will be "renewed" one way or the other.
What is our goal? To train children to be humanists? Or train children who will live according to Romans 12:2: “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."
Psalm 1:1: “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”
We are either changing society or succumbing to the deception.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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The latest statistics from Per Forum reveal that according to the current birth rates, between the years 2055 and 2060, the birth gap between Christians and Muslims is excepted to be six million (232 million births among Muslims vs. 226 million births among Christians). Read the full report. Very informative.
http://www.pewforum.org/…/the-changing-global-religious-la…/
More babies were born to Christian mothers than to members of any other religion in recent years. Less than 20 years from now, however, the number of babies born to Muslims is expected to modestly exceed births to Christians.
pewforum.org
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Do you feel like you are doing the same thing day after day? It just feels like drudgery? Did you know there is a way out?
E. Stanley Jones writes," While love takes on itself impossible tasks, yet it finds that love lightens all loads. It is the same burden that wings are to a bird, sails are to a ship. Nothing is hard if done for love's sweet sake. The yoke of love is easy; the yoke of duty is hard. There is all the difference in the world between being drawn by love and being driven by duty. The task may be the same, but love makes everything light, and duty makes everything drudgery."
Love changes your attitude. Try it. Even when you don’t feel like loving, do it by faith. Love with words and action because it is the right thing to do. The amazing thing is that when you do this the feelings of love begin to come bac k into your life. Do nothing. Keep in your misery, self-pity, and feeling you can’t love, and you’ll stay there. Rise in faith and your heart will; change. It will begin to fly.
Seek to do every task in your home out a heart filled with love for God, your husband, and your children. You will be happier. Your husband will be happier. And of course, your children will be happier.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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It could be quite nice to be able to purchase whatever you want. It could be fun to purchase whatever groceries you desired instead of counting out your pennies.
However, there are two kinds of riches. We can either heap up riches for ourselves, or heap them up toward God (Luke 12:21). Our true riches are in the eternal realm, but did you know that there are godly riches we can have in this life too?
KNOWING AND UNDERSTANDING GOD (Jeremiah 9:23-24). We were created to fellowship with God. If we do not know Him we miss out on what we were born for. We are poor and foolish.
A HAPPY MARRIAGE (Proverbs 12:4). A couple can live in the richest home and have money to burn, but if they don’t live in harmony and happiness together, they are poor. I think that one of the greatest riches of this life is to enjoy the bliss of marriage which is God’s beautiful plan and intention for us on this earth.
CONTENTMENT (1Timothy 6:6). If you are content and happy with what you have, even if it is only a little, you are rich.
CHILDREN (Deuteronomy 7:13 and Psalm 127:3-5). Our children are truly our greatest riches in this life (and praise God, we can take them into eternity with us, too)! If a fire came through your home, what would you try to save? You'd forget about all your material possessions; you'd only want to save your children. And yet, isn't it amazing how many people would rather have fleeting possessions than children?
GOOD WORKS (2 Corinthians 6:10 and 1 Timothy 5:10; 6:18). When we self-serve and do everything for ourselves, we are very poor. When we forget about our own life and serve others, always thinking of how we can bless those around us, we live a rich life.
WISDOM (Proverbs 3:13-15 and 8:11). God says that wisdom is better than fine gold or precious rubies.
FAITH (James 2:5). Faith is so rich because it trusts God rather than what we can see. We don't hold back having children because of unbelief. We know that God is able to provide. We know we can trust Him in whatever situation we face. What richness! We may not have much materially, but we've all we need.
GOD'S WORD (Psalm 19:10 and Colossians 3:16). God's Word is more to be desired than fine gold! If God's word dwells in us RICHLY, our spirit will be strong and steadfast. If God's Word is shallow in our hearts, our spirit will starve and we will be weak and impotent to live this life.
PEACE which passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6). What riches to have peace even during the storm.
I love Paul's confession in 2 Corinthians 6:10: "As poor, YET MAKING MANY RICH; as having nothing, AND YET POSSESSING ALL THINGS." One translation says, "Penniless, we own the world!" What a great confession!
Enjoy your rich life today,
Nancy Campbell
Picture: Heather Bryant and her husband and wonderful family. What riches! Heather has organized the Above Rubies retreat in Washington state for many years now.
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CHEER UP!
“Please don’t give me these words,” you reply. “You don’t know what I am going through. I’m depressed, discouraged, and disappointed.”
Listen to these words from Jesus in John 16:33: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but BE OF GOOD CHEER; I have overcome the world.” Jesus says these words to you when you are going through tribulation, not just when everything is rosy. He has the authority to say them to you because He has already overcome the world! He doesn’t only say “Cheer up,” but “be of GOOD cheer.”
God is an affirming God. He is always encouraging us through His Word. Psalm 27:14 says: “Wait on the LORD: BE OF GOOD COURAGE, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Perhaps you feel weak and inadequate. Not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually? Look up to the Lord. Wait on Him. He will bring courage and strength to your heart. Not just courage, but GOOD COURAGE!
BE OF GOOD COMFORT
2 Corinthians 13:11 states: “BE OF GOOD COMFORT.”
And please read 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17: “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.”
Are you sorrowing or grieving? Have you lost a loved one? Have you suffered a miscarriage? Who can comfort the ache in your heart except God? He will comfort your sorrowing heart if you will let him.
You don’t have to stay in the doldrums today. God wants to cheer your heart.
Love from Nancy Campbell
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1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 says: "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN. For ye are bought with a price: therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Do we really believe these words? I’m not sure. It seems that many women do not believe their bodies belong to God. They believe they own their own bodies and should do with them as they like. However, the Scripture tells us that God our Creator owns our bodies. He owns them by creation and by redemption. Revelation 4:11 says: “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
God created everything for His pleasure and glory, which includes our bodies. Therefore, this means every part of our body—our ears to be dedicated to hearing His voice, our mouth to proclaim His truths, our eyes to turn from evil and behold His face, our hands, and feet to reach out with love, nurture, and serving. And of course, our wombs, which God also created for His glory. How can we say, “Dear God, I yield my life totally to You and Your service? Except my womb. That’s mine and mine alone to determine how it is used.”
I think it is good to be reminded of what God says in His Word, don’t you? Take time to read the Scriptures. They are so much more powerful and important than anything I say. Let’s read:
Psalm 100:3: “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
Psalm 119:73: “Thy hands have made me and fashioned me.”
Psalm 139:14: “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.”
Isaiah 29:16: “Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?” Many translations say it clearer: “You turn things upside down.” In other words, you’ve got it all wrong.
Some other translations use the word “perverse” or “perversity.” The NET (New English Translation) says: “YOUR THINKING IS PERVERSE!” Should the potter be regarded as the clay? Should the thing made say about its maker, ‘He didn’t make me’? Or should the pottery say about the potter, ‘He doesn’t understand’?”
Two other very literal translations also use “perverse,” The Scriptures and the Young’s Literal Translation. I always like to check things out to see who is correct. Therefore, I went to the original Hebrew. The phrase in the King James Bible “surely your turning” is used only once in the Bible and the Hebrew word is “hophek,” meaning “perverse.” The exact word!
Some dictionary meanings of “perverse” are “contrary and willful, stubborn, obstinate, wayward, turned away from what is right and good.” It’s a strong word, isn’t it? We don’t want to be labeled with such a word, do we?
Isaiah 45;9: “Woe unto him that serveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth; Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? Or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?”
Isaiah 674:8: “O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
Romans 9:20: “O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?”
The Scripture need no more comment.
Have a wonderful day,
Nancy Campbell
Picture: milyshares.blogspot.com/2011/02/maternity-photos.html
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Kristin Eason emailed a beautiful poem she wrote, which I share with you below. She writes: “I wrote this poem after thinking how birds are always singing their sweet songs, rain or shine, and how strange it would be if they stopped singing.
I then thought how man is made in the image of God and yet how little I spend my days praising. Even though we have so much to be thankful for--a God who daily provides for us, a Savior who died for us and is our Intercessor before God the Father, nature with all its natural beauty (sunrise, sunsets, starlit sky), we often find it easier to grumble and complain. If birds praise their Creator, how much more should we as children of God?
LET’S PRAISE HIM TOO!
If birds should halt their songs of praise
And silence filled the woods each day,
Would we begin to question why,
Their natural instinct they defy?
If birds should grumble and complain,
Believing singing is in vain;
Because they sing not like the wren,
They vow to never sing again.
If birds should worry oft’ and fret,
The Lord’s protection soon forget,
No longer would they chirp and sing,
Praise and worship to the King.
Would this seem strange and truly odd,
To have no song to sing abroad?
In gratitude for wings to fly,
To soar above the sunlit sky?
Yet we’ve been given so much more,
But choose to walk when we could soar.
Above the way we often feel,
God, give us passion, give us zeal!
I’ve never heard a silent dawn,
Where birds in nests are found withdrawn.
For praise is what they’re made to do,
So, let their songs encourage you.
For Christ has given all we need,
Our enslaved hearts He came to free.
Yet we fail to sing our words,
Unlike the songs we hear from birds.
Let birds remind us to adore,
To sing His praises ever more.
Rejoicing in our world abroad,
Of hope in Christ, of faith in God.
KRISTIN EASON
El Dorado Springs, Missouri, USA
Thank you, Kristin, for this reminder.
~ Nancy
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I’d love to share with you a quote I read this morning. It is from an article by Alexander MacLaren called CONTINUAL SUNSHINE from his book, “Expositions of Holy Scripture.” You’ll want to read it more than once.
It is an excerpt from his commentary on Psalm 89:15: “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of Thy countenance.”
“There is only one thing that breaks the continuity of that blessedness, and that is our own sin. We carry our own weather with us, whether we will or no, and we can bring winter into the middle of summer by flinging God away from us, and summer into the midst of winter by grappling Him to our hearts.
“There is only one thing that necessarily breaks our sense of His Presence, and that is that our hearts should turn away from His face. A man can work hard and yet feel that God is with him. A man can be weighed upon by many distresses and yet feel that God is with him and loves him; but a man cannot commit the least tiny sin and love it, and feel at the same time that God is with him.
“The heart is like a sensitive photographic plate, it registers the variations in the sunshine; and the one hindrance that makes it impossible for God’s light to fall upon my soul with the assurance of friendship and the sense of sweetness, is that I should be hugging some evil to my heart. It is not the dusty highway of life nor the dark vales of weeping and of the shadow of death through which we sometimes have to pass that make it impossible for this sunlight to pour down upon us, but it is our gathering round ourselves of the poisonous mists of sin through which that light cannot pierce.”
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Some people allow themselves to get eaten up inside with bitterness, hurt, and jealousy etc. We cannot allow these attitudes to continue in our lives for they destroy us and our entire family. We have a responsibility as mothers to keep our spirits whole--pure, blameless, and continually forgiving.
However, there is one area where the Bible tells us we can get eaten up? Do you know what it is? John 2:17 says of Jesus: “The zeal of thine house hath EATEN ME UP.” These words were spoken after Jesus made a whip and cleansed the temple. He drove out all the sheep and oxen, tipped over all the tables and money, and cried out: “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise” (John 2:16). He also cried out: “It is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13).
Your home is also God’s house if you have dedicated it to the Lord, which I am sure you have. Therefore, we should have the same zeal Jesus had to protect our homes and families. We are faithful watchwomen who drive evil out of our home. Even if we upset everyone! I’m sure we won’t be tipping over tables and throwing money everywhere, but we’ll be strong enough to take a stand against any evil that seeks to bring darkness into our homes. We’ll have a passion to keep our homes holy.
We’ll have the zeal of the Lord about making our home a House of Prayer! In fact, if our homes are not homes of prayer, can we call them God’s homes? We’ll plan our schedules around our daily prayer times with our family. We won’t just hope it fits in. We’ll make it happen!
We won’t be apathetic about building holy homes and homes of prayer. We’ll be zealous about it. We’ll be consumed with it.
Jesus Christ redeemed us to be “zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). Building your home and family for God is a good work. Do it with zeal. Don’t do it half-heartedly, allowing other things to consume your mind and time. Embrace the great commission God has given to you and pour your heart into it.
May the blessings of God fall upon you, dear anointed, zealous, passionate mother,
~ Nancy Campbell
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Yesterday we talked about the opposite attitudes of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and His enemy the devil. Satan was the anointed cherub. You can read the full description of his origin in Ezekiel 28:12-15.
Jude 1:6 tells us that God gave him a realm of authority. The word is “arche” and means principality, dignity, power, and rule. He had his own sphere of rulership, but was not content. Instead, he grasped at that which didn’t belong to him.
We see a warning to us in this Scripture. God has given to women a sphere where we have the privilege to rule and to reign. We admit that we love to rule over something, don’t we? Yes, it is inherent. I believe it comes from the very beginning where God told Adam and Eve to “be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth,” but also to “subdue and take dominion.”
We go to the New Testament 1 Timothy 5:14 and read that God’s plan for the younger women is to “marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully.” The words “guide the house” literally mean to manage (to rule and reign in the home). The Greek word is “oikodespoteo.”
Now that doesn’t mean we rule our husbands. It means that we have a sphere to manage and rule well. It is in this realm that we live in the glory God intends for us. We also must keep the right attitude and embrace the realm God has given to us. It is not significant. It is not subservient. It is a place of managership and productivity. It is our glory.
Satan comes to tempt us with the same attitude that resulted in his downfall. He makes us discontent. He wants us to grasp after other areas of rulership that God does not intend for us.
Let’s read some different translations to get more understanding.
GOODSPEED: “the angels who NEGLECTED THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES and ABANDONED THEIR HOMES.”
ESV: “the angels who did not stay within their OWN POSITION OF AUTHORITY, but left their proper dwelling.”
Berean: “the angels who did not STAY WITHIN THEIR OWN DOMAIN, but ABANDONED their proper dwelling.”
HCSB: “the angels who did not KEEP THEIR OWN POSITION but DESERTED their proper dwelling.”
KNOX: “The angels, too, who LEFT THE PLACE ASSIGNED TO THEM, instead of keeping their due order.”
Embrace your God-anointed sphere. It is your queendom.
Blessings to you today,
Nancy Campbell
Painting by Robert Coombs. Isn’t this the most beautiful painting?
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Everything in our lives comes back to attitude, doesn’t it? It determines the way we live? What is my attitude toward my husband? What is my attitude toward my role of mothering in the home? Is it based on what I want, or is it founded on God’s eternal plan?
I am forever challenged by the words in Philippians 2:5-8 (HCSB) where it says: “Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage (or something to be grasped after). Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.”
This a description of the mind of Christ and we are exhorted to have the same mind. Do we have anything like this attitude? What a difference it would make in our marriages. What a different to the atmosphere of our homes. I often think that if we had no other Scripture, apart from this one, to show us how to live as married couples, it’s all we’d need.
On the other hand, we see the attitude of Satan is the opposite of Christ. Although Jesus was God, He did not grasp at holding on to His Godhead. Satan was not God. He was a created being, although one of the most beautiful creatures God created (Ezekiel 28:12-19). But rather than having a humble attitude, he was not satisfied or content with the glorious sphere God gave to him (Jude 1:6). Instead he rose up with pride and independence.
The Bible tells us in Isaiah 14:12-15: “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Highest.” Do you notice his favorite words, “I will, I will, and I will” again and again”?
What is my attitude? What is yours? Do we have the attitude of Jesus which is submission, humility, and laying down our life? Or is it the attitude of Satan which is pride, independence, and demanding our own way? The attitude of Jesus is beautiful and brings harmony, peace, joy, and delight into our marriages and homes. Satan’s way may seem good in getting your own way, but it always ends in destruction.
I believe we must all encourage ourselves, including myself, to have the attitude of Jesus. Just remember that Satan is out do get you to go his way. He has been very successful. He managed to lure Eve to his way, even though she walked with God in the garden every day. He drew to himself one third of the angels of Heaven against God. Revelation 3:13 tells us that the whole world will follow him and few will be saved.
Don’t be one of the deceived. Go after the attitude of Jesus now.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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This article is worth reading:
http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/…/thomas-edison-would-ha…
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I read some time ago that the home is the emptiest place in America during the day. God never intended the home to be empty. Jesus told the parable of the man who made a big banquet and told his servant to “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled” (Luke 14:23).
This is a picture of God’s house. He wants His home to be filled. Because we are to be like Him, He wants our homes to be filled too. Not only filled with furniture and décor, but filled with people. He wants them to be filled with family togetherness--food, feasting, friendship, fellowship, and fun.
When a mother leaves her home and the family members scatter each day, the home is fragmented. The home is meant to be the strength of the nation where the family learns together, works together, and grows stronger together.
If your home doesn’t have enough people, open your doors of hospitality and invite others in to fill your home and show them God’s love. God loves to say, “Come.” Do you?
Have a great day,
Nancy Campbell
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It's not enough to believe in your heart; you have to confess with your mouth. You only keep what you confess. You only experience in your life what you confess. We are exhorted to "Hold fast the CONFESSION of our faith without wavering" (Hebrews 10:23). Can I let you in on a secret? The more you confess the less you will waver!
~ Nancy Campbell
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When Eve woke up to life, she was in her garden home. God had the home ready for her. This was to be her life. This is where she would bring life into the world and raise children to influence the world. This is where she would work fulfill all the gifts God had given her. It was not a place of restriction, but joy, freedom, efficiency, and productivity. And this is His plan for you, dear mother. This is your life, too.
You are a “keeper at home” (Titus 2:5). Oops! That’s not in the Bible, is it? Yes, it’s still there, unless you cut it out. But, it is not restricting! Its vastness is as wide as the ocean and as high as the heavens.
The home is a birthing center, a mothering/nurturing center, a training and education center, a praise and worship center, a prayer center, an eating center, a cultural development center, a social center, a hospitality center, a counseling center, a health center, an industry center, a garden center, and a convalescent center! And this is just the beginning.
There should be more joy, excitement, and productivity in the home than anywhere else in the world. Of course, YOU make it happen.
Have a wonderful day,
Nancy Campbell
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