All the principles that God gives us in His Word are liberating principles. They set us free from bondage, depression, self-pity, bitterness, and destruction. And yet, God's ways are usually opposite of how we would naturally react. One of these kingdom principles is forgiveness. When someone hurts us wrongly or speaks false words against us, it is not easy to forgive. But, unless we do, we only end up hurting ourselves. God shows us in His Word how to do it.
1. We must be eager and ready to forgive.
God Himself is always "READY to forgive" (Psalm 86:5) and He wants us to have the same attitude. We don't hold out for months or years in bitterness, but forgive immediately.
2. We must forgive all, not only some things.
God never holds back His forgiveness. He forgives ALL our sins. There is nothing He won't forgive when we seek the cleansing of the blood of Jesus. Read Psalm 103:3 and Colossians 2:13.
3. We must forgive seventy time seven.
Yes, Matthew 18:21-22 tells us 490 times, but the inference is UNENDING forgiveness. How can you forgive over and over again, even for the same thing? Only by God's grace and forgiveness which we inherit when Christ comes to dwell in us (Romans 5:5 and Colossians 1:27).
4. We must forgive from the heart.
Matthew 18:35 NASB says, "My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother FROM YOUR HEART."
5. We must forgive others the same way Christ has forgiven us. This kind of attitude doesn't let us off the hook, does it? Ephesians 4:32 reads, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, EVEN AS GOD for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Read also Luke 23:34 and Colossians 3:13.
There will always be someone we have to forgive. It may be every day, or more than once a day. Allow Christ to work His spirit of forgiveness in you, today.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
As my husband listened to Sean Hannity yesterday, he heard that according to two major sources, that USA used to be the least corrupt country in the west. Sadly, it has now become the most corrupt. In the midst of this corruption we have the responsibility and privilege to train children of integrity, children who will be courageous to stand for truth and purity in the midst of distortion.
This won't happen easily. This will take courageous and purposeful mothers. This will take parents who will take their children out of the state school system where they are indoctrinated in humanism, feminism, socialism, and now more and more with the gay agenda. It is impossible to raise a pure and unadulterated generation who are filled with God's truth if we send them to be educated by the enemy's camp every day. We cannot turn this nation around when children from Christian families are being educated in everything that is against God and family.
Let's raise shining lights in the midst of the darkness. And please don't tell me that you send your child to school to be a shining light. Young children are not yet ready to stand against the deception. Instead, they are subtly brainwashed with humanism which is the opposite to God's Word. But, we should get them ready to be strong, courageous, and filled with truth so that when they are older and ready they will come forth from our homes (not deceived and corrupted), but filled with light to disperse the darkness and deception.
Philippians 2:15 says, "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a CROOKED AND PERFVERSE NATION, among whom ye SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD."
May God fill you with His anointing and wisdom today as you raise shining lights for God.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Are you feeling frazzled? Is your stomach tied up in knots? Overwhelmed by motherhood? Dear mother, I think that often we feel weighed down and snowed under because we get involved in too many other things outside the home. It's so easy to get in the rat-race of running here and there and having our children involved in too many activities, isn't it?
Many years ago I read a bumper sticker that said, "If a woman's place is in the home, why am I always in the car?" It isn't God's plan for us to mother our children running around in the car, but in the home.
Can I encourage you that when life gets frantic, to take stock and look at what you are doing. I love the Knox translation of Hosea 11:11 which says, "In their OWN HOME, says the Lord, I WILL GIVE THEM REST."
I know that all your running around is for good things. But, dear mother, don't let seemingly good things rob you of the perfect will of God. Even Eve, who walked personally with God every day, was not tempted by something that looked evil, but by what looked "good" and "wise" (Genesis 3:6).
Watch out for deception and find your REST IN YOUR HOME.
Love from Nancy Campbell
think you'll enjoy this poem (or is it a song, Val?) written by Val Halloran, one of our regular Above Rubies Facebook readers.
GROWN TOO FAST
I think back to the day you came
to bless me long ago;
All I knew about you was your name
and that I loved you so.
A tiny bundle, soft and sweet,
God's special gift to me.
Uniquely made to be like Him,
to live eternally!
The days and months flew quickly by;
I was told the time would pass;
but with lots of babes and work to do,
I didn't know then just how fast.
I wanted more than anything
to lead you in God's ways,
to teach you that to live for Him
was the reason you were made.
Now that you're grown and on your own,
and time to train has passed,
though you say that you saw faith in me,
I still wish I could go back,
to cherish more those fleeting times
to show you of His love.
Though I tried to point you all to Him,
I'll never feel I did enough.
But I'll say to you what was said to me,
that as you love and train your own,
slow down, enjoy these precious ones,
in a blink, they'll all be grown.
@2013, Val Halloran
www.valhalloran.com
You are most probably aware that written in the 2,517 pages of Obama Care, that hardly a soul has read, that they will be giving a minimum of $500,000,000.00 to Planned Parenthood each year. Our government does not promote life, but death. Obama Care is not for our blessing but to take control of our lives.
It makes me think of Nehemiah 9:37, "Also they have dominion over our bodies, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress."
Last week a dear friend called me to say that she received a knock on the door. A lady stood there from a local government agency to state that her perfectly beautiful and HEALTHY 10 year old daughter had not had a medical checkup in the last year! She didn't need a checkup. She is totally healthy! Can you believe such an invasion into family life? And this just happened last week.
If we don't stand up now for truth, we will lose all our freedoms.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Most Above Rubies readers in USA should have received their magazine by now. Don't despair if you haven't. Give it another week or so before you start screaming that your copy hasn't arrived! Sometimes some folks have to wait about three weeks. You can never tell with the Post Office.
You will notice on page 15 that there is A SPECIAL GIFT FOR YOU. Our son, Wes Campbell, Manager of the Newsboys has released a FREE download to all Above Rubies readers--a song from the latest Newsboys CD, Restart, which recently hit the market.
Michael Tate, four times Grammy Award Winner, sings "That Home" about the power of a mother in the home. You will love it! We play it over and over again here, in the home and in the car. The youngest of nine children, Michael sings about his mother, of the love in his home, and also of the hundreds of children who were nurtured there. Sadly, as this CD hit the market, Michael's mother of 86 years passed away.
Here is the FREE download for you. It will be easier for you to click on it here than check in the magazine. And if your magazine hasn't arrived yet, you can get it NOW.
http://tinyurl.com/ThatHomeMp3
Here's the first stanza... you can listen to the rest when you download.
There was a home in town
Where broken kids the lost and found
Would come for miles around
Just to see what love was all about
‘Cause momma had a way
Of making things okay
She’d cook us our favorite meal
Sit and listen to how we feel
Oh, how the pain was real
How many families would the devil steal
Momma had a way of making things okay
CHORUS:
In that home we knew we were safe
To be young enough to dream
To find the faith to believe
And in that home love it had no end
That’s where we learned to forgive
In that home
Happy listening. Nancy
I'm just a little feller
And I didn't quite make it there;
I went straight to be with Jesus
And I'm waiting for you here.
Don't you fret about me, Mommy,
I'm of all God's lambs most blest;
I'd have loved to stayed there with you,
But our Shepherd knows what's best.
Many dwelling here where I live
Waited years to enter in,
Struggled through a world of sorrow
And their lives were marred with sin.
So sweet, Mommy, don't you sorrow,
Wipe those tears and chase the gloom;
I went straight to Jesus' bosom
From my lovely mother's womb.
Thank you for the life you gave me,
It was brief, but don't complain,
I have all of heaven's glory,
Suffered none of earthling's pain.
Thank you for the name you gave me,
I'd have loved to brought it fame;
But if I'd lingered in earth's shadows,
Might instead have brought it shame.
Abba gave me something for you,
It's our secret, Mommy dear;
Pressed it tight against my forehead,
Whispered in my tiny ear.
I'll be waiting for you, Mommy---
You and Daddy, Bud and Sis,
I'll be with you then forever
And I'll give you Abba’s kiss.
Author Unknown.
After my post, "God has not Forgotten You," some mothers shared the pain of continual miscarriages. One dear mother has lost over a dozen babies to miscarriage.
It is so grieving to lose a baby at any stage, whether it is a few weeks in the womb or many years older. No matter what stage it is grief because a life has been lost. Yes, this precious life has been lost to us, and yet it hasn't really been lost. Every baby that is born is an eternal soul that will live forever. Dear mother, you will one day enjoy this precious life for eternity. It was not a waste to conceive this child. You have brought forth a child for the eternal realm, which is the real world. In your loss and in your pain, please be encouraged as you look forward to the FOREVER. This is your hope. This is your joy.
Many folks are now receiving their new magazine, Above Rubies # 88. In this issue you will read a testimony, SEVEN TINY BOXES where a mother shares the pain of losing seven babies to miscarriage in the last seven years.
May you be encouraged, Nancy Campbell
We cried tears when we learned that a child would be,
That your God had allowed you to quicken in me.
We cried tears with our loved ones as they shared our joy
And we thought about names for a girl or boy.
I cried tears as I thought of the things we would do,
All the things that your Daddy would pass on to you.
And I cried as I thought of each inch you had grown
As I pondered the day you'd make yourself known.
Then, to think of the world you must enter brought fears,
Once again, Little Loved One, your mother cried tears.
Something's wrong I can tell… once again there are tears
And I'll not get the chance of your love through the years.
Oh, the ache and the sorrow and all of the pain… and again,
Yes, again... my tears fell like rain.
Then His peace comes to me as I think of you there
Gently rocking with Father in His favourite chair,
Your sweet little fingers clenched tight in His palm
And His Son softly singing to help keep you calm.
Our Father knew your days before they came to be
And He knew, Little One, you would not stay with me.
So I cry, but I know that when this life is done
I will greet and embrace you, my sweet Little One
There's a time to be born and a time to die
And the joy and the sorrow both make us cry.
~ CONNIE JOHNSON
This last weekend Colin and I were speaking at the Above Rubies Family Retreat in Louisiana. A lovely family with eight children organized the retreat. They confessed they could never have done it without their children who all worked so hard to make it happen. The whole family led the worship and played their instruments, and one of their sons fasted one meal a day for many months to pray for the retreat.
Just before we all left, the father asked his family to stand up with him and his wife. He then began to share how that after they had four children they had much pressure from their parents and friends in the church to not to have any more children. He confessed how if he had listened to them they would not have their last four beautiful children. And he asked them to walk away.
He then shared how that when they had their daughter, that once again parents and friends urged them to stop having more children. "Now that you have your daughter, you don't need any more," they persisted. By this time the father was weeping as he asked his beautiful daughter to walk away.
This couple have always been very interested in missions. However, many missions demand a contact to be signed that they will not have any children, or at least not more than two children. If they had gone ahead with their Missions vision they would not have their third son and the father asked him to walk away.
At the beginning of their marriage, this father didn't want any children. Because of the indoctrination of his professors at college regarding the zero population growth he was convinced that you shouldn't bring children into the world. However, his wife longed for children and eventually God opened His eyes to His truth. If he had listened to his professors and the indoctrination that is prevalent today, he would not have had any children and he asked his two oldest sons to walk away.
The husband and wife were left standing together as the father continued to weep. The impact of watching their children gradually leave them was incredible. They nearly missed the enormous blessing of their eight children who are growing up in the ways of God, who shine with the glory of the Lord, and who are now helping them in the work of the Lord as they minister together as a family. Satan didn't win this victory, but he wins in thousands of Christian families all over this country.
May God save His people from deception.
Love from Nancy Campbell
After writing yesterday about how God loves to bless us with children, I received a comment regarding those who cannot conceive. I have not forgotten you, precious mothers. Even as I wrote yesterday's post I was grieving for those who cannot conceive. Sometimes, some cannot conceive because of being on the Pill (although that does not affect everyone), or physical problems. However, many times we have no answer as to why. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world.
All we can do is to yield ourselves to God who is Sovereign over our lives. Of course, that does not take away the longing to conceive and to mother. Proverbs 30:15-16 tells us that the womb is never satisfied. Can I encourage you to never give up praying and trusting God? God is a God of miracles. I have known mothers who have conceived after waiting 10 years and even more!
And you have most probably prayed about fostering or adopting. Adopting children has its challenges, but it is also close to the heart of God. God's plan is for every child to grow up in a family and there are millions of orphans in this world waiting for homes. God created you to be a nurturer. Don't waste your mothering anointing in frustration. Seek God for who He wants you to mother and nurture in your home and be open to bringing a child into your fold through adoption, or whatever way God has planned for you.
Remember, that in all of your longing, God is with you and will lead you and guide you for His glory.
Much love to you dear mother, Nancy Campbell
Yesterday I shared with you the Scriptures of how God gives us children because of His love and compassion toward us. I want to show you something more from Deuteronomy 13:17 where it says that God will "show thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee." I was amazed to find that the words "mercy" and "compassion" are exactly the same words in the Hebrew.
It is the word "racham" which is a wonderful word. It describes God's compassion and tender pity toward us. It means "to fondle, to soothe, to cherish, to love, to be compassionate, to demonstrate mercy." It reveals "the wombness of God." And, it is the exact same word that is used of a woman's womb. This word is used interchangeably in God's Word to describe God's mercy and also the womb. Isn't that amazing?
As we embrace the womb that God gave us and receive the children He wants to give us, we have the opportunity to reveal God's mercy and compassion, not only to our little baby, and our other children, but to the world. When we embrace the womb, it brings an anointing of compassion and tenderness all over us. When we turn away from children, it is easier to become harder in our spirit.
And do you notice, that God repeats this word twice! He says, "I will have COMPASSION AND COMPASSION upon you to give you conception." He reinforces this blessing by repeating the words twice. How wondrous. Isn't it wonderful to see God's loving heart in His Word?
Love from Nancy Campbell
Why does God want to bless us with children?
1. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO BLESS US (Genesis 1:27-28; 9:1, 2, 7 and loads of others). There is a whole chapter on these blessing Scriptures in the book, "Be Fruitful and Multiply."
2. BECAUSE HIS FACE IS TURNED TOWARD US (Leviticus 26:9).
3. BECAUSE HE LOVES US (Deuteronomy 7:13).
4. BECAUSE OF HIS MERCY AND COMPASSION TOWARD US (Deuteronomy 13:17).
5. BECAUSE HE REJOICES OVER US (Deuteronomy 28:63).
6. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO DO US GOOD (Genesis 32:12; Deuteronomy 28:6; 30:5).
7. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO HONOR US (1 Chronicles 25:4-5).
8. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO PROSPER US ABUNDANTLY (Deuteronomy 28:11).
9. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO GIVE US JOY AND GLADNESS (Luke 1:13-14).
10. BECAUSE HE WANTS TO FILL THE EARTH WITH HIS GLORY AND FILL ETERNITY (Genesis 1:28; Malachi 2:15 and loads of others). Check out "Be Fruitful and Multiply."
Isn't this amazing? These Scriptures reveal the heart of God toward conception and fruitfulness. I wonder why so many Christians think children are a nuisance, and want as few as possible, when God's heart is the opposite. I wonder why they want to stop having children when God's Word reveals the opposite. Don't you think it's time for us to line up with God? If we belong to His kingdom, we'll believe what He says.
Love from Nancy Campbell
How can I do it? I have too much to do,
I’m overwhelmed and feeling real blue,
I’m stuck in this house like super glue.
Don’t look around – LOOK UP!
The dishes and laundry are piled up high,
When I look ‘round the house I have to sigh,
And for supper my husband’s expecting a pie!
Don’t look around – LOOK UP!
We can’t pay the mortgage; bills are overdue,
I’m tired and have headaches, not a few,
These children are driving me crazy too!
Don’t look around – LOOK UP!
My husband comes home late; he doesn’t care,
He doesn’t help with the children; it’s not fair!
I don’t want to smile; I just want to glare!
Don’t look around – LOOK UP!
Take your eyes off your problems, look up to Him,
God’s presence is with you, even in the din!
Confess your bad mood and He’ll cleanse your sin.
He is your God – LOOK UP!
He will show you how to order your place,
He will give you direction as you seek His face,
He wants to pour upon you His anointing of grace.
He is your God – LOOK UP!
Keep your eyes fixed on Him; He is your Stay,
He is your Wisdom for problems each day,
He will bring His presence right into your fray.
He is your God – LOOK UP!
Each morning He comes as the refreshing Dew
To revive your body, and your spirit too,
He is your Deliverer and He’ll make you new,
He is your God – LOOK UP!
~ Love from Nancy Campbell
This is why we are here. To light up our home and light up the world with God's love, truth, and glory. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).
Let's shine the light of Jesus from our lives today. Remember too, that the more children God graciously enables you to bring into this world, the more light you bring into the world. Every new babe is another opportunity to reveal the light of God. Jesus "gives light to every man who comes into the world" (John 1:9).
Let's fill the world with light.
Love from Nancy Campbell
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.
Isn't the word "longsuffering" such a lovely word? It's a lovely word, but not so easy to put into practice, is it? What does it actually mean?
The word means "forbearance, fortitude, patience--and longanimity." Forgive me, I hadn't heard of that last word until I was checking out the meaning of this Greek word this morning. I checked the 1828 Webster's dictionary to find it means "a disposition to endure long under offenses." Oh my. It is true that sometimes a trial we faces doesn't go away quickly. It goes on and on. Can we endure to the end? Can we keep enduring for the long haul?
We can't in our own strength. But, we can in Christ's strength. He lives within us and He is longsuffering. This is His nature (Joel 2:13; Romans 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9, 15).
Paul confessed, "That in me first Jesus Christ might show ALL LONGSUFFERING" (1 Timothy 1:16). What a testimony. Can we have this testimony in our home as we mother our children? Mothering certainly takes LONGSUFFERING. And Jesus wants to show to your children and to all around His longsuffering through your life as a mother.
Embrace the frustrations and trials of mothering. You have the opportunity to SHOW FORTH THE LONGSUFFERING OF JESUS. What a privilege.
Love from Nancy Campbell
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