Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Two thousand years ago in a stable all forlorn,
Wise men brought to Jesus precious gifts when He was born.
“What precious gifts do I have that are worthy of a King?
For I’m a lowly mother, Lord, what treasure can I bring?

I know that You seek hearts, Lord, that will trust You and obey,
So I give You mine, Lord Jesus, take it, Lord, I pray.
But, I cannot seem to find the time to give You of myself,
These little ones do drain me and deplete my store of wealth.

My days are full of diapers and feeding hungry mouths,
Of washing, cleaning, ironing--this work it takes me hours.
And when at last there’s quiet and all are asleep in bed,
I think that I might serve You, but nod off to sleep instead!"

But, as I dream in slumber, Your voice to me does speak…
“If you were like the wise men, you’d know the gift I seek,
For these men in their wisdom knew gifts cannot be used
If they are always hidden with tinsel and subterfuge.

They unwrapped their treasures; you too must do the same,
Removing all self-consciousness, even sin and needless blame,
For the wondrous gift of motherhood is given by God above
And when you “mother” children, you show My greater love.

So let not your heart be troubled, weary mother, for you see,
When you are building children, then you are serving Me.
This gift from every mother whether she be great or small
Is a very special gift, one I treasure from you all.

For I too had a mother who suffered shame for me,
She nurtured me and clothed me, wept, and mourned like thee.
I know to have a mother who will give her very best
Is a very worthy treasure, so come to Me, dear mother, and
I will give you rest!

By Val Stares,

Above Rubies Director in Australia

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at a soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home, and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties, and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug your child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss your husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the children to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust. But giving the gift of love will endure.

~ Unknown.

Dear Lovely Ladies,

We are now in this time of celebrating the birth of our dear Savior and Redeemer, who is King of kings and Lord of lords. We know that this time of the year is not the actual time when Jesus was born, but it is still an opportunity to meditate on this miraculous event.

I know that many of you love to celebrate Christmas, and there are many who do not believe in celebrating Christmas.

Dear ladies, can we please put aside our differences and just remember our Savior in whatever we choose in our family. I may post some encouraging posts about this time of the year, but can I ask that we don't begin to debate whether we should or should not celebrate Christmas?

Thanks dear ladies.

Love from Nancy Campbell

I am meditating on the awesomeness of Christ coming into this world. Bible commentators agree that Jesus was not born at this Christmas time when the world remembers His birth. He would most probably have been born about the month of September during the Feast of Tabernacles. However, this is most probably that time that He was divinely conceived by the Holy Ghost. Amazing. God coming to the earth as a "seed" from the Father.

Although it happened without the world knowing, it was not insignificant. It was the most powerful event in history. Christ, the Son of God, growing inside a mother's womb, becoming flesh, dying and shedding His blood for our sins, and bruising the head of Satan. Although it was all prophesied, it was not how the Jews expected their Messiah to come.

But, from the womb of a lowly woman God brought forth His Son to fulfill His plan for the ages. He came as a baby, but it was to deal a death blow to the enemy, to bruise his head (Colossians 2:14 and Hebrews 2:14-18). This is a time to remember that we are in a battle, a battle between the kingdom of darkness, and the kingdom of light.

God spoke to the serpent in Genesis 3:15 NET, "I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel." Satan still tries to bruise our heel, but Christ has bruised his head and He will have the final victory when all nations and all people will be brought into subjection to His power and authority.

One translation of Genesis 3:15, "There will be war." There is still a war against the womb of the woman. Satan tried to thwart Jesus, the Holy Son of God, being born into this world. But, because he hates life, and especially the godly seed, he continues to stop children being born into this world. Let's not be tricked by the devil's plan.

Love from Nancy Campbell

God fulfilled the plan of eternity by miraculously bringing His Son into the world from the womb of a woman. God still continues to fulfill His purposes, in a smaller way, through babes who come from the wombs of women.

Psalm 8:2 WEB says, "From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength, because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger."

It is a very important aspect of parenting to build a hedge around our family and home. Truthfully, it is actually 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 had 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 CONTINUIALLY! 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. No matter how busy our lives, we must find time to do this together. 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 home.

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

What is the atmosphere like in your home? Is it filled with bickering, arguments, criticisms and complaining? Or, is it filled with the sweet presence of Christ? God wants us to live in an atmosphere of His sweet presence, just as He wanted His priests to live in the aroma of sweetness in the tabernacle. The recipe for the incense in the holy place was to be made of SWEET spices that were to be tempered until they were PURE and HOLY (Exodus 30:34-38).

2 Corinthians 2:14 WEB says that Christ "reveals through us the SWEET AROMA of his knowledge in every place." Did you notice that it says "IN EVERY PLACE"? That means your home. That means in your kitchen. That means when the baby is crying, the toddler is having a fit, the pots are boiling over on the stove, and your husband is demanding your attention! In every place and in every situation. Because, dear mother, it doesn't matter what is happening in your life, Christ lives in you and His attitude is SWEET! You can't do it in your own strength, but as you acknowledge His sweet and holy presence in you.

I love the J. B. Phillips' translation of this verse, "Thanks be unto God who leads us, WHEREVER WE ARE, on his own triumphant way and makes our knowledge of him spread through the world like a lovely perfume! We Christians have the unmistakable 'scent' of Christ." Do I? Do you?

My husband also mentioned this Scripture in his post to men this morning. He comments, "This means it begins in the home. How? By singing the Lord's songs, speaking encouraging words, smiling from your heart, helping one another, bearing one another's burdens, speaking the truth in love, sharing testimonies of Christ working in our lives, and opening ourselves up in a bright and positive way to one another. All these, and many more, fill the home with the fragrant atmosphere of Christ."

May your home be filled with the unmistakable scent of Christ today.

Love from Nancy Campbell

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" which is "zayith" says "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.

Just think, 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, to not only 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.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Each morning and evening at Family Devotions, after reading and prayer, we sing a chorus, a worship song, or a hymn. Most often we get out the hymn books. The other morning we sang "Who can cheer the heart like Jesus," one of my favorites. There are many today who are not familiar with the old hymns and therefore I thought I'd share the words with you. I especially love the words of the second and third verses? Nancy

Who can cheer the heart like Jesus
By His presence all divine
True and tender, pure and precious
O, how blest to call Him mine

Chorus:

ALL THAT THRILLS MY SOUL IS JESUS
HE IS MORE THAN LIFE TO ME
AND THE FAIREST OF TEN THOUSAND
IN MY BLESSED LORD I SEE

Love of Christ so freely given
Grace of God beyond degree
Mercy higher than the heavens
Deeper than the deepest sea

What a wonderful redemption
Never can a mortal know
How my sin, though red like crimson
Can be whiter than the snow

Every need His hand supplying
Every good in Him I see
On His strength divine relying
He is all in all to me

By the crystal flowing river
With the ransomed I will sing
And forever and forever
Praise the glorify my King.

All the power you need to fulfill your diving calling of motherhood is found in God and all the wisdom you need is found in His living Word. 2 Corinthians 3:5 says, "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing of ourselves; but OUR SUFFICIENCY IS OF GOD."

Blessings from Nancy

What a privilege to be a woman!
We are created in the image of God.
We are created to reveal the nurturing and mothering heart of God.
We are created with a womb to be a life-giver.
We are created with breasts to nurture and nourish life.
We are created to be a vessel of God to bring forth life into this world--a life that is planned before the beginning of time, a life with a God-given purpose to fulfill on this earth, and a life that is an eternal soul and will live forever. We are created to be the nurturers and trainers of God's children, the children He gives to us to train on His behalf.
We are created to be feminine.
We are created to be a helper to our husband and blessed by God's plan to live under his covering and protection.
We are created for good works.
We are created to bring glory to God.
Thank you, Lord God. What a privilege. And thank you for purpose for each new day.

Love from Nancy Campbell

How amazing! You are called, commissioned, and consecrated for your great career of mothering by the King of kings and Lord of lords.

"Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will GREATLY ENRICH his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life" (Proverbs 31:11 NLT)

God is the God of knowledge (1 Samuel 2:3; Proverbs 9:10; Isaiah 11:2; Colossians 2:3). Are our children taught knowledge from God's point of view in our public schools? No.

God has the key of knowledge (Luke 11:52). Do our public school teachers use the key of God's knowledge to lead the students into His ways? No. They take away the key of knowledge and instead teach man's ways and ideas.

The fear of God is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7) Are our children taught the fear of God in our public schools? No.

It is from God's mouth we receive knowledge (Proverbs 2:6). Are our children being taught from the mouths of godly people in our public schools? Praise God we do have some godly teachers in the system (although their tongues are tied), but the majority are not godly.

Why then do many Christian parents prefer a humanistic education for their children rather than an education based on God's Word?

Love from Nancy Campbell

Yes, of course you do. As parents, we are very concerned about educating our children to prepare them for life. But, what really is education? Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary states, "The bringing up of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habit of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties."

When I read this I can see that the greatest textbook we can use to educate our children is the Bible. Yes, the knowledge of God's Word is foremost, but the Bible must also be the foundation in teaching every other subject for life.

Education is not only facts and knowledge, but enlightening the eyes to understand. How does this happen? Psalm 19: 8 says, "The commandment of the Lord is pure, ENLIGHTENING THE EYES."

Do we want our children to be wise? Psalm 19:7 says, "The testimony of the Lord is sure, MAKING WISE THE SIMPLE."

Education is also correcting the temper and attitudes to prepare them to face life. How do we do this? 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."

When we understand this we come into conflict with the current public education in this country. It denies the wisdom of the Bible. It won't even allow God any room at all--in prayer, study, or even mentioning His name.

Let's be honest. How can our children be "THOROUGHLY FURNISHED UNTO ALL GOOD WORKS" when they are denied the source of true wisdom? Yes, they will be educated, but in humanist, socialist, anti-God education. They will be prepped for a worldly life-style, but not for the destiny God has planned for them. Handing our children over to humanist education only advances Satan's kingdom, rather than God's kingdom.

I believe it is time for all believing parents to make sure their children are receiving a godly and Word-inspired education. Anything less is apposite to God's plan for them (Deuteronomy 6:6-9).

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Christ not only wants to dwell in our hearts, but in our homes. And yet, there are many times that we are so busy doing our own thing and going our own way, that Christ Jesus, the Lord of Heaven and earth is left standing at the door. We haven't got room in our lives to include Him.

Jesus speaks to us, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20).

We often think Jesus is speaking to those who have never invited Him into their hearts. This is true! But, this Scripture was written to believers! Even, we as believers can keep him knocking at the door.

Invite Him into your home today. Invite Him into your kitchen as you prepare meals and care for your children. Invite Him to your table to sit with you for every meal. Invite Him into your bedroom. Invite Him into every corner of your home.

Welcome His light to fill your home and expose every tiny bit of darkness, uncleanness, and worldliness. Welcome His love to fill every heart and overflow with love to one another.

Be reminded by this lovely painting "The Light of the World" by Holman Hunt, one of my favorites since a child.

Love from Nancy Campbell

My husband asked everyone this morning at breakfast, "What are the good things you are going to do today?" That's a good question to start the day, isn't it? It's a good question for us wives. My post the other day reminded us that we are to do something good for our husband every day of our lives! That can be very general, but if we make it specific and ask ourselves, "What is something good I can do for my husband today? it makes us more motivated. Okay, I can't encourage you to do something and not do it myself. Therefore, I have just stopped to think about what I will do for my husband today, so now I have my challenge before me. But, it's a secret!

This is a good question for your children, too. "Children, let's stop for a moment and think of something good you can do today for someone in the home." Now, everyone has a challenge to do something good. 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 says that "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. Sometimes we just go about!

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

Love from Nancy Campbell

This is another lovely idea we used to do with our children when they were growing up. I would put the names of everyone in the family in a bowl or hat. Each one pulls out a name and that person becomes their SECRET FRIEND for the week. They have to something special for that person every day without his or her knowing who is doing it, until they find out at the end of the week.

You can give your children ideas for when they first start, such as:

Write an encouraging or loving note and leave on or under their pillow.
Clean their shoes when not looking.
Put a chocolate or bar in a special place where they know they'll find it.
Make their bed.
Clean their bedroom for them when they are not around.

But, encourage them to use their imagination. Our children were so excited to think up different things to do.

I remember one time when our oldest son got his father's name for his secret friend. At that time Colin left very early each morning. One morning we heard noise in the kitchen as our son was up even earlier to cook his father's breakfast and a have cup of tea ready for him before he left for work.

This is a wonderful way to teach the children to care for one another and to think of others instead of themselves. We played SECRET FRIEND so many times.

Love from Nancy Campbell

I have been meditating on these words the last few days. You will remember these words written in Psalm 23:6, but we also read them in Proverbs 31:12 where it reminds us that the virtuous wife will do her husband good and not evil ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE!

That's not just the days that we feel like it, or when he's being nice, but it's also on the days we don't feel like it, and when maybe he's not being so nice! It's thinking of something GOOD to do to our husband each new day.

May this by our testimony all the days of our life.

Love from Nancy.

Apart from the official Hanukkah which we celebrate, we read about a number of Hanukkah celebrations in God's Word.

1) Dedicating the tabernacle for 12 days. Each prince of Israel dedicated the altar for a day each (Number 7:10-11, 84, 88). This was the first dedication we read about.

2) Dedicating a new house (Deuteronomy 20:5). It is biblical to dedicate a new house.

3) Dedicating Solomon's temple which he built for the Lord (1 Kings 8:62; 2 Chronicles 7:5, 9).

4) Dedicating the rebuilt temple when they came back from Babylon--Zerubbabel's temple (Ezra 6:16).

5) Dedicating the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem(Nehemiah 12:27).

And there is one more! You'll never guess!

It is Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The word "train" is "hanuk," the verb of Hanukkah, meaning "to initiate, dedicate, consecrate." It is not enough to celebrate Hanukkah for eight days. As parents, we are in a FULLTIME HANUKKAH CELEBRATION!

When we understand that to train our children means to dedicate them to the Lord, it gives us new vision. Everything we do is now in the light of dedicating our children to the Lord and setting them apart for His service. It's not a one-time dedication. It is a verb which requires daily action.

When our children are disobedient or don't complete what we have asked them to, we can sometimes be lazy and let it go. But, not if we understand we are daily dedicating them to the Lord. How can we let things go when we consecrating them to God's holy service. We have the responsibility to train and prepare them for Him.

As children get older, they can become more worldly and want to do what other more worldly teens are doing. We could think, "Oh that is the stage they are going through." But, not if we understand that we are daily consecrating them to the Lord. We will pray up a storm. We will fight the devil. We will work with our children to keep them on the narrow road that leads to life. We will do everything to save them from the broad road that leads to destruction. WE ARE HANUKKAH PARENTS!

When we "hanuk" our children, it determines how we educate our children. It would be ludicrous to send our children into a an ungodly education system each day when we are daily consecrating them for God's purposes.

As we consecrate our children to the Lord, we recognize they totally belong to the Lord, for whatever time God has for them on this earth. Above everything else, we know that we are ultimately preparing them for eternity.

Blessings from NANCY CAMPBELL