Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

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

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

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

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

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

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

~ L. A, Bennett

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

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

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

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

Blessings to you today,

NANCY CAMPBELL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

It's this anointing God wants to flow down from you, right to where you meet life--in your kitchen, dealing with your little ones, and all the mothering challenges you face today. I remember how my little ones used to love to hang on to my skirts. Where I walked, they walked. They played in my skirts. They hid in my skirts, especially when a stranger came.

The skirts speak of getting down to the nitty-gritty. To the lowest. To where your little ones are. The menial day to day tasks of life. Dear mother, you can’t accomplish these in your own strength. Instead, let God's anointing flow down to where you are at this moment! Whatever is happening now! Ask God to pour down His anointing to the bottom of your skirts. There is where He wants to come--to the very reality of your life (Psalm 113:4-8).

God bless you in your home today,

Nancy Campbell

Along came precious babies
Until the count reached eight.
We did our best to train them,
For results we'd have to wait.

The world had things to offer
That lured their hearts to roam.
Some of them had wandered
From things they learned at home.

Philosophies, wrong thinking,
Things beyond control,
Were there to steal our children,
To claim their heart and soul.

The family dream that started
Went far from what I planned.
In anguished prayer I cried out,
"Lord, I don't understand."

I gave my life to bear them,
To raise them for your name.
When others would prefer a job,
That led to wealth or fame.

In spite of my best efforts,
I'd hang my head in shame.
The thing I wanted most of all
Dissolved like coals in flame.

But as I prayed and pondered,
With still so much to learn,
Some of those who'd wandered
To home and faith returned.

They had to seek their own faith.
They had to know their need.
To learn how great the Savior
We'd taught them to believe.

I couldn't just protect them
From things they had to learn.
Some, more than the others
Had to feel that fire burns.

I also learned they aren't mine,
But God's, to do his will.
I trained and taught them best I could.
He's God, I need be still.

In time, my prayers were answered,
Beyond what I could ask.
One by one some who’d wandered,
Returned to faith at last.

I'm waiting still for others
Still lost along the way,
Trusting God will hear my cries
For their return some day.

Perhaps if I'd done better
From faith they'd not have roamed.
But grace is greater than my faults
And prayer can bring them home.

2016 Val Halloran
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Be encouraged and blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: I AM A CHILD by Zula Kenyon (1873 – 1947, American)

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 by His people (Matthew 5:14-16). Don't deprive the world of God's light by saying No to His children.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Painting: One of Jessie Willcox Smith’s beautiful paintings.

It’s a good question for your children, too. "Children, let's stop for a moment and think of something good you can do for one of your siblings (or mommy and daddy) today. We’re all going to close our eyes and think about it. No one is to get up from their chair (or the sofa) until they have thought of their special surprise.” At the end of the day, as you sit together at the family meal table, each one can share what happened to them. The children can also share what fun it was to go out of their way to do something for someone else. What an exciting home to live in.

Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we were created in Christ Jesus for good works. If Christ lives in us we should live like Him. Acts 2:38: "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." Jesus went about doing good works. Sometimes we just go about!

Instead of just going about in your home, go about doing good works!

Have fun today,

Nancy Campbell

Daniel 7:25 speaks about the coming anti-Christ (although this same spirit is already in the world): "He shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High." The words "wear out" in the Hebrew mean "to afflict mentally." These words are only used in a mental sense. This is Satan's strategy. To wear us out in our minds with unbelieving and deceiving thoughts. If you are filled with worry, confused, and tormented in your mind, you can't function emotionally or physically.

Therefore, you must be on the alert. You don't have to let the enemy wear you out! This is not God's plan. You can't stop these thoughts coming to your mind, but you stop them embedding in your mind! You don't have to dwell on them for one minute! Resist them in the name of Jesus. Throw them out of your mind. They don't belong in your redeemed mind. My daughters call them “bucket thoughts” which they throw in the garbage!

1 Peter 1:13 says: "Gird up the loins of your mind." In Bible days the men wore long tunics and when doing physical exercise pulled up their tunic and tucked it in their belt so they would not be hindered. In the same way, we must eradicate of any thoughts in our minds that hinder us from walking in the victory which Jesus Christ died to give us.

Be encouraged again today with 2 Corinthians 5:4, 5: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity EVERY THOUGHT to the obedience of Christ."

May you have a victorious day triumphing over the wiles of the devil. You do not have to let him wear you out.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

God bless you in your home today.
Nancy Campbell

God has more for you, dear mother. He wants you to flourish and bloom. I believe we only come into the flourishing mode when we embrace our mothering role with all our heart; when we know we are in God's perfect will. No matter what the hardships and challenges, we face them with joy. We are not dreaming of some day when we will be through these mothering days. Instead, we live every moment to the full. Every moment is an abounding moment because Christ lives in us and His life is not wilting, but full of life and power (John 10:10).

Embrace your powerful calling of motherhood. Make every moment a God moment. Think of yourself as a flourishing plant--abounding, blooming, blossoming, enlarging, expanding, flowering, growing luxuriantly, increasing, and thriving (Isaiah 54:2-3)! This is God's plan for you.

God bless you today,

Nancy Campbell

Do they see your sweet spirit of submission toward your husband who is your head and covering? Do they see you delighting to serve? Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church and we certainly wouldn't expect to see the church ordering Christ around, would we?

Titus 2:3-5 describes the lifestyle God wants us to live and goes on to say that when we spurn this lifestyle that we blaspheme God’s Word. That’s because we reveal a false doctrine.

What kind of doctrine do you show to your children?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

This Scripture was also the cry of my heart yesterday and last evening. And truly God moved by His Spirit. No man can take any glory. In His mercy God came and answered the cries of millions of His people all over this nation, and the world, as we pleaded for mercy to save us from an agenda of progressivism, of murdering babies, of appointing liberal supreme court judges, the influx of terrorists into our nation, hidden corruption, lies, and more.

We were not fighting flesh and blood, but principalities and powers. And the surprised liberal media had no idea of the thousands of praying believers across the land who believe that “Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34).

That’s why only the power of the Holy Spirit could bring down “the great mountain”! The words following this Scripture say: “Who art thou, O great mountain? . . . thou shalt become a plain.” God brought down a huge mountain last night.

We humbly give God the glory. But we cannot relax and think it is all over. It is only the beginning. We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness more than ever. We must cry out for revival in the church and across the land. We must be faithful to pray every day—pray individually, pray as families, and pray as groups of believers. God comes by His Spirit in answer to prayer. Amen.

Humbly and thankfully,

Nancy Campbell

It is morning and he lies
Uttering his happy cries,
While his little hands reach out
For the feet that fly about.
Then I go to him and blow
Laughter out of every toe;
Hold him high and let her place
Tiny footprints on my face.

Little feet that do not know
Where the winding roadways go,
Little feet that never tire,
Feel the stones or trudge the mire,
Still too pink and still too small
To do anything but crawl,
Thinking all their wanderings fair,
Filled with wonders everywhere.

Little feet, so rich with charm,
May you never come to harm.
As I bend and proudly blow
Laughter out of every toe,
This I pray, that God above
Shall protect you with His love,
And shall guide those little feet
Safely down life's broader street.

~ Edgar Guest

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. My three oldest children are all over 50 years of age, but it still seems like one blink of my eye since the day they were born. 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, today.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Picture: Back when my twins were born, 1965 (Evangeline on the left and Stephen on the right). At that time I had three children under 17 months.