T Traveling through life is no good on your own,
To do it with family is the best way known.
O Old and young, the toddlers and teens,
All add to the mix with their family genes.
G Gathering together as much as we can,
Putting aside time to be with the clan.
E Enjoying suppers, parties, and feasts
Where we all bring food and special treats.
T Talking and laughing, shouting, debating,
It’s a great lot of fun, certainly not sedating!
H Helping one another in times of need,
Going the extra mile to do the deed.
E Embracing the children, the more the merrier,
Enlarging our homes to all fit in one area.
R Remembering each other, even those far away,
Cementing the bonds by praying each day.
N Never holding a grudge--for hurt or lies,
Forgiving freely when offences arise.
E Expect perfection? We all fall on our face,
We’re sinners redeemed, needing God’s grace.
S Strengthened by unity--we must guard it well,
And watch “little foxes” don’t come in to dwell.
S Serving each other with a humble mind,
This is the way as a family we’ll bind.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
God says in Jeremiah 31:1, "At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the GOD OF ALL THE FAMILIES of Israel, and they shall be my people." There is coming a day when God will be the God of ALL the families of Israel.
What about us now? Is God truly the God of our family life? Would someone coming into our home immediately become aware of the presence of God in our home? Are our children very much aware that God lives in our home? Is God honored in every decision we make, every word we speak, and every action?. Do we honor Him by coming together as a family each morning and evening to hear Him speak to us and pour out our hearts to Him? Or, have other things taken His place in our home?
If God were to truly become GOD IN THE FAMILY in the homes of believing families across the nation, the nation would become filled with the righteousness of God. The fear of God would come into the land. We would push back the darkness of sin and deception. This can happen. It starts with each individual family. It starts with my family. It starts with your family.
Let's begin to allow God to truly be God in our home--in every moment, and every situation.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Back into the Above Rubies office this morning after a WONDERful day of prayer, fellowship, and being inspired in God's Word. And yes, it lasted all day. Because it was THE DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM yesterday, we not only prayed at church in the morning, but we had a powerful prayer meeting in our home in the evening for Israel. Did you get to pray, too?
I read yesterday in Obadiah 1:15, "The day is near when I, the Lord, will judge all godless nations! AS YOU HAVE DONE TO ISRAEL, SO IT WILL BE DONE TO YOU." That sure is a powerful statement, isn't it? And it's not something we can take lightly as it is written by God Himself. It reminds me of a book I read a few years ago, "As America Has Done to Israel" by John P. McTernan. Have you read it? It's worth reading.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Praise the Lord for the weekend to relax after a busy week. Friday night the Above Rubies helpers and all the grand-daughters around the land got together at Serene's for a sleepover--14 of them, from youngest to oldest. Isn't it wonderful when you have 14 girls without having to bring anyone extra in? They had a dessert evening, played fun games together and then watched a movie until they all went to sleep.
What about the boys? Serene's boys had to be evicted from the Girls' Night, so they, with the rest of the boys on the land slept downstairs at our place--after playing for hours in the dark out on the lawn. By the time we came down Saturday morning, there was not a boy in sight~! A few had gone hunting as it is Bow season and they desperate to get a deer, or more! Later, the boys all played soccer on the lawn for most of the day. They never seem to get sick of it.
Now it's Sunday. How we look forward to our service here this morning (always SO GREAT) and then fellowship for the rest of the afternoon. "I WAS GLAD when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord" (Psalm 122:1). Amen!
Love, Nancy
One of the Scriptures we read from THE DAILY LIGHT in our Family Devotions this morning was Romans 12:1-2. We all recited it together as we know it by heart, as I am sure you also do. However, it's one thing to memorize it, but it's another thing to walk in the experience of it, isn't it?
We always discuss the Scriptures in our devotion time. It tells us that it is our "reasonable service" to present out bodies as a living sacrifice to God. We wanted to find out what "reasonable" really meant. The Greek word is "logikos" which comes from "logos" meaning "God's reason or intelligence expressed in human speech." In other words, we are going along with God's revealed plan in His Word when we yield our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice.
The other place where this same Greek word is used is in 1 Peter 2:2 where it tells us to desire the sincere milk of the Word (logikos).
It's a challenge, isn't it? Am I constantly yielding my body as a living sacrifice to God? My mind, my heart, my ears, my tongue (ouch!), and yes, my womb. This is our reasonable service that lines up with God's Word.
Love from Nancy Campbell
We know the quote of William of Wykeham, "Manners maketh man." I was blessed to see this portrayed in our home last night. A lovely family have come to stay with us for a couple of days. When they arrived the eight year old immediately shook hands with each person in our home and introduced himself, "My name is Jeremiah." Then the five year old put out his hand to shake hands with each one saying, "My name is Samuel." And even the little three year old did the same, introducing herself as "My name is Wonder." Yes that is her name. Isn't it WONDERful?
I also read yesterday, "Good manners will often take people where neither money nor education will take them." I guess you have found, as I did, that children are not born with manners! They don't seem to have a clue about etiquette without faithful training. But, oh how important it is to train them in etiquette.
Teach your children how to sit and eat correctly at the table. Teach them to walk with their head high and soldiers back. Teach them to speak CLEARLY AND POLITELY and look people in the eye. It is sad that the majority of children mumble answers when spoken to by adults and have no idea of looking at the person's face.
We as mothers determine the manners of our children. Let's keep on the job.
Love from Nancy Campbell
And here's a little poem your young children may like to memorize about manners.
"A child should always say what's true
And speak when he is spoken to,
And behave mannerly at table;
At least as far as he is able."
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
"Good manners will open doors that the best education cannot. "
~ Clarence Thomas
"One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness."
~ Josh Billings
"Associate with well-mannered persons and your manners will improve. Run around with decent folk and your own decent instincts will be strengthened."
~ Stanley Walker
"A man's manners are a mirror in which he shows his portrait."
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
"Clothes and manners do not make the man; but when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance."
~ Arthur Ashe
“Life is short, but there is always time enough for courtesy.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
God's ways are always opposite to our fleshly ways. We think if we hold on to our rights we'll win. We think that if we make sure we keep everything we need for ourselves we'll have plenty. But, God's ways are different. Jesus said that if we try to save our life we'll lose it, but if we freely lose our life we'll find it (Mark 8:35).
Proverbs 11:24-25 says, "There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that witholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." We usually think of these words in the context of giving to the needy, financially and materially, but I believe it is even bigger than that.
We have to have an attitude of liberality in every department of our lives. It is so easy to have a stingy attitude, isn't it? And therefore we withhold blessings from those around us. How often do we withhold words of love, blessing, and kindness from our husband and children? We may think the words, but don't get to say them. Or, many times we can be too busy thinking about ourselves to take time to think of positive words to speak to those around us. "The liberal soul" literally means "the blessing soul."
How often we withhold cuddles and kisses, just because we get too busy. Don't worry, I am challenging myself as well as you! Because of selfishness we withhold God from blessing us with children and thereby we deny the world and eternity of blessings. And yes, we can be stingy about sexual intimacy. That's a horrible stinginess.
Let's ask God to work in us a generous and liberal attitude, freely giving in every area. We won't lose. We'll only be blessed.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Proverbs 11:24-25 MSG, "The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped."
Slow down, Mummy, there's no need to rush,
Slow down, Mummy, what is all the fuss?
Slow down, Mummy, make yourself a cup tea,
Slow down, Mummy, come and spend some time with me.
Slow down, Mummy, let's put on boots and go out for a walk,
Let's kick at piles of leaves, and smile and laugh and talk,
Slow down, Mummy, you are looking very tired,
Come, sit and snuggle and rest with me a while.
Slow down, Mummy, those dirty dishes can wait,
Slow down, Mummy, let's have some fun and bake a cake!
Slow down, Mummy, I know you work a lot,
But sometimes, Mummy, it's nice when you just stop.
Sit with us a minute and listen to our day,
Spend a cherished moment,
because our childhood will not stay!
~ Rebekah Knight (c) 2011
Why does God give us life? To LIVE! To enjoy life and to experience fellowship with Him. But, also to continue life. God's wondrous plan is that He doesn't create us to be end with ourselves, but to carry on life. To pass on something of who we are. How amazing.
God states in Deuteronomy 8:1, "All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may LIVE, AND MULTIPLY." I wrote these words in my journal in response to this Scripture... What is our purpose for living? To multiply! God doesn't give us life to be sterile, but to continue bringing forth more life! We were created a life-giving creature. The first woman was called, Eve, meaning LIFE-GIVER. To receive life from God and not be a life-giver is sad and selfish.
Let's look again at what God said. He didn't tell us to be stingy about continuing life, but to MULTIPLY! That's the heart of God. Now, please don't react and get mad at me, because I didn't say those words. God did.
Why don't we just get in line with God and His plan? It's the best! Man's ways lead nowhere. God's ways lead to life. And we'll be in the perfect will of God.
And you are allowed to say, Amen!
Love from Nancy Campbell
I wrote yesterday about how everyone who comes in contact with us should SEE that we are called by the name of the Lord. How will they see? By living out in the country and becoming self-sufficient? That's a great dream, but not the answer. By the way we modestly and conservatively dress? It's important to be modest, but that's not the answer.
Then how will they see? People will know we are called by the name of the Lord when they are aware of God's presence upon our lives. I experienced this in a little incident in my life before I was married. I was seeking after God with all my heart. I was school teaching at the time and got this thought that if I didn't wear make-up that people would see that I was a Christian. This was hard thing for me to do because I was like Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, plus a freckle face! But, I wanted to really show people, even if they had to look at my red nose!
I lived this way for a number of months until one day God spoke to me in my heart. The words were strong and clear. "Nancy, is this the only way people will see you belong to Me? Immediately I was convicted. Immediately I realized that I was relying on works rather than the power of God. Immediately I comprehended that the only way people will know that I am called by the name of the Lord is when they SEE CHRIST LIVING IN ME It is when they observe His powerful presence in my life. It's nothing to do with outward religious show. This gets in the way of God's presence.
Moses realized that He couldn't take the children of Israel into the Promised Land without the power and presence of God with him. He cried out to God in Exodus 33:16, "For how then will it be known that your people and I have found grace in your sight, EXCEPT YOU GO WITH US? So we shall be separate, your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth."
What separates us from the spirit of the world is not hiding away, or outward works, but the presence of God in our lives.
Love from Nancy Campbell
What do your children see as they observe your relationship with your husband? What do your friends and acquaintances think as they watch your family life? Does it make them want to have the life you live? Does your lifestyle bring glory to God?
God told the children of Israel, "The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself... if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways. And all people of the earth shall SEE that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee" (Deuteronomy 28:9-10).
Do people SEE that we belong to God? Are they in awe of us because of God's presence with us? This is God's purpose for us as His representatives on earth. May God help us individually, and as families, to truly seek after Him and His righteousness so that folks will really see that we belong to Him.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Did you know that your husband doesn’t have to be like you? He has a different personality to you. And, most of all, he is a man! He won't act like a woman, unless he is a wimp! He will do things differently to you because he is a man. He will feel things differently because he is a man.
Give up trying to make him like you? Why not stop conforming your husband to your plans and let him be who God created him to be? It may be different to what you have planned, but it will much better than your idea. And your husband will be able to breathe! And, be the MAN God wants him to be.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Home is where we prepare our children to face life.
Home is where we prepare our children for their future marriage.
Home is where we prepare our children to establish their own godly home one day.
Home is where we prepare our children for their destiny.
Home is where we prepare our children to influence the nation.
Home is where we prepare our children to have a relationship with God.
Home is where we prepare our children for heaven.
IT ALL HAPPENS IN THE HOME.
Without this training in the home the nation will be impaired.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Proverbs 12:4 tells us that a virtuous woman is a CROWN to her husband. She is worth more to him than the diamonds and jewels that adorn a crown. The wife who crowns her husband...
C Cherishes her husband (Titus 2:4).
R Reverences her husband (Ephesians 5:33).
O Obeys her husband (Titus 2:5).
W Watches over her husband to do him good (Proverbs 31:11-12).
N Never nags her husband. (Proverbs 19:13; 21:9,19 and 27:15).
Love from Nancy
Your daily duties become a delight when you know that God is with you in every little task, no matter how mundane.
My garden harvest is slowing down. Only a few tomatoes ripening now, but still loads of hot peppers. Okra is still growing prolifically. But, what did I choose to eat from my garden this evening?
Sweet potato leaves. I grow the sweet potatoes to enjoy them, but also to use the leaves throughout the growing season. I only discovered I could do this when our Liberian children came and now it's one of our favorite dishes.
I sauté onions and hot peppers in red palm oil (we like things HOT). When they are cooked, I add the finely cut sweet potato leaves. Our Liberian children love to cut it really finely with a knife. I am lazy and use the food processor. I add salt and pepper, Nutritional Yeast, and more palm oil as needed.
Tonight I also added Italian sausage. Everyone loved it.
Nancy