Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

What about confessing some affirmations about your marriage today? It's amazing how they will change your attitude, and consequently your relationship with your husband, and the atmosphere of your home.

I am a covenant-keeper.
I am my husband's happy helper.
I am respecting and honoring my husband today.
I am a smiling wife and mother.
I am going to be more delightful to my husband than when he first met me!
I am guarding my marriage and home on all fronts!

Love from Nancy Campbell

I was walking with Serene to her home this afternoon. Some of the children had gone to karate with the other cousins, and I said to her, "You'll have a quiet supper tonight."

"Oh no," she replied. "It will be much more hectic. I won't have so much help and therefore the children will be more boisterous and roudy. I won't have Engedi to hold baby Haven while I cook the meal or Cherish to help with the other little ones."

It's so true! More children don't make life more burdensome for a mother. The opposite is true. The more children, the more help. The more older children, the more there are to play and entertain the little ones. Everyone works together and the home runs smoothly.

The most challenging time of motherhood is when you have two or three little children, and no older ones. Please don't despair in this time, young mothers. More children, not stopping children, will fill your home with joy. And it doesn't become more overwhelming. It will become easier.

Love from Nancy Campbell

WHAT IS MARRIAGE?

One man and one woman,

   Fused into one.

God’s plan! Is there a better?

   There is none.

One body, one flesh—

   Indescribable!

One purpose, one vision—

   Unconquerable!

One soul and spirit—

   Invincible!

What is the foundation?

Praying together—

   Highest priority!

Reading God’s Word together—

   Paramount for success.

What does it take?

   Sacrificial love.

   Yielding and submission.

   No longer “me” but “you.”

   Laying down my life.

   Delighting to serve.

What is the fruit?

   A union that cannot be broken.

   A union that survives the storms of life.

   A union that forges a path for God in this world.

   A union that builds a godly generation for now and generations to come.

What is the power?

   A God-fearing family that is formidable to the adversary!

~ Nancy Campbell

Keep confessing the truth! Choose one, or all of them, to confess out loud. You will become what you speak.

I am no longer a half-hearted, but a whole-hearted wife and mother.

I am walking before the Lord and my family with a transparent heart.

I am walking in the joy of a free spirit.

I am raising children who are richly filled with God's Word.

I am in full-time ministry for God as I nurture and train my children.

I am training my children how to listen to the One who speaks from heaven!

Love from Nancy Campbell

It is important to constantly affirm who God created you to be and who you are in your high and noble calling of motherhood. Here are a few affirmations for you today. Write them out, bold and big, and pin them up where you can be reminded. And don't forget to SPEAK THEM OUT LOUD!

And remember, you don't speak these affirmations because you feel like it. You may feel exactly the opposite! But, forget your feelings. They come and go. They are temporary. Truth is the real issue, and when you speak truth, you will be amazed how your whole being--emotionally, physically, and spiritually, will catch up with your confession.

I am a fulfilled and liberated homemaker.

I am created to be a nurturer.

I am a dangerous woman to the enemy as I raise arrows for God's army.

I am a full-time missionary, training laborers for God's harvest field.

I am involved in the greatest building program in the nation--building a godly dynasty!

I am a family strengthener.

Love from Nancy Campbell

"To be a mother is a woman's greatest vocation in life. She is a partner with God. No being has a position of such power and influence. She holds in her hands the destiny of nations, for to her comes the responsibility and opportunity of molding the nation's citizens."

~ Spencer W. Kimball

Once, Eisenhower's mother was waiting in a certain place to meet her son, the President of the USA, when reporters spotted her, came up to her and said,

"Don't you feel great about your illustrious son?"

"Which one?" she replied.

A mother's charge--an immortal creature.

A mother's duty--to train him/her up for God, heaven, and eternity.

A mother's dignity--to educate the family of the Almighty Creator of the universe.

A mother's difficulty--to raise a fallen sinful creature to holiness and virtue.

A mother's encouragement--the promise of Divine grace to assist her in her momentous duties.

A mother's relief--to bear the burden of her cares to God in prayer.

A mother's hope--to meet her child in glory everlasting and spend eternal ages of delight with him before the throne of God and the Lamb.

~Angell James

"Blessed is the woman who has a smile in her voice, a sparkle in her eyes, a song on her lips, a spring in her step, a warmth in her touch, a depth to her beauty, a purpose for her life, a joy in her faith, a hope in her breast, and a love in her heart."

William Arthur Ward

An editor of a London newspaper submitted to Winston Churchill, for his approval, a list of all those who had been his teachers.

Looking at the list Winston remarked, "You have omitted the great of all my teachers--my mother."

"There is more in a mother's hand than in a king's scepter."
~ Billy Sunday

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

~ Annie J. Flint

I'd like to end this little study today with Ephesians 3:17 TLB,

"And I pray that Christ will be MORE AND MORE at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust him. May your roots go down deep into the well of God's marvelous love."

Love from Nancy Campbell

We are still finding more things that God wants us to have MORE of and to do MORE of. We need to remind ourselves each new day that this is MORE AND MORE life. Anything less is not the normal Christian life.

MORE reigning in life (Romans 5:17).

Through the power of Christ indwelling us, we can reign over all situations we face. We don't have to go under. God wants us to REIGN IN LIFE. We cannot do it in our own strength, but because Christ dwells in us.

MORE rejoicing (Luke 15:7; 2 Corinthians 7:13 and Philippians 1:26).

Not less rejoicing, but MORE rejoicing. Rejoice in all the little things that happen in your life each day. Rejoice with your husband. Rejoice with your children and teach them how to rejoice. Don't let anything go without rejoicing about it.

MORE searching the Scriptures (Acts 17:11; 18:26 and Hebrews 2:1).

The Bible tells us that the Bereans were MORE noble than the Thessalonicans because they "searched the Scriptures daily." They didn't do it out of sufferance, but with "great eagerness." We can't do too much searching of the Scriptures. The Scriptures are not just for Sunday but for every day of the week in our home.

MORE serving (1 Corinthians 15:10; 9:19; 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 and Revelation 2:19).

We get plenty of opportunity to serve in our exalted role of wife and mother. don't we? Let's not serve with boredom or resignation, but with joy and a MORE AND MORE attitude.

MORE value (Matthew 10:31; Luke 12:6-7).

Even though God is so high, He cares for the little sparrows. However, He reminds us that we are of MORE value than them. Dear mother, God is watching over every little incident that happens in your home. Cast all your cares upon Him, the big and the little. He is caring for you MORE than you realize.

Love from Nancy Campbell

What MORE can we come into today?

MORE multiplying (Exodus 1:12; Deuteronomy 1:11 and Isaiah 54:1). 

The children of Israel, living in bondage to Egypt and suffering bitter and hard labor, are an example to the Christian church today. Even in their suffering they kept on having God's children. Exodus 1:12 says that "The more they (the Egyptians) afflicted them, the MORE THEY MULTIPLIED AND GREW." What's our excuse today?

MORE patience (Revelation 2:19).

The testimony of the church at Thyatira was that they had MORE patience at the end than the beginning. Are we growing MORE AND MORE patient? Colossians 1:11 tells us that God strengthens us with His might in our inner man in order for us to experience patience and longsuffering.

MORE prayer (Luke 22:44).

How can we have MORE prayer? One of the ways is to make sure we establish Family Bible/Prayer Time every evening and morning with our family.

MORE praises (Psalm 71:14).

Let's get into the habit of praising God for every little joy we experience, and even in the difficult things we experience. For a practical idea to become a praising family go to the Above Rubies webpage, click on Articles and Stores, then Change the Mood in Your Home.

MORE provision (Matthew 4:24; 6:25-30; 7:11; 13:12 and Luke 12:24-28).

God is a dwelling God. He dwelt amongst His people in the wilderness in the Holy of holies. Today, God wants to not only dwell in your heart, but to dwell in your home. And He promises to abundantly provide for you. Psalm 132:15 says, "I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread." Go to the Above Rubies webpage, click on Articles and Stores, and then Can God Provide?

Love from Nancy Campbell

I hope you are not just surviving today as you live in the land of MORE AND MORE. Never settle for the status quo. Never settle for mediocrity. Never settle for an "average" marriage, or "survival motherhood." God always has more for you as you press into Him.

MORE giving (Mark 12:43; Luke 21:3; Acts 20:35).

In Exodus 36:5 it tells us how the Israelites brought "MUCH MORE THAN ENOUGH for the service of the work." What a wonderful attitude. It is easy to have a stingy attitude and only give what is absolutely necessary, isn't it? But, God wants us to have an attitude of giving MORE THAN ENOUGH in every area of our lives. This is the character of God. He always gives MORE THAN we deserve. I love these words...

He might have doled His blossoms out quite grudgingly,

He might have used His sunset gold so sparingly,

He might have put but one wee star in all the sky,

But since He gave so lavishly, why should not I?

MORE grace (Romans 5:15-17; 20-21; James 4:6).

God not only gives grace, but MORE grace. In fact the Scriptures say, "MUCH MORE grace." Because of the overflowing grace we receive from God, we also should give grace to others. And not only grace, but MORE grace.

MORE of the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13; 2 Corinthians 3:8-11).

MORE humility (Romans 12:3).

Jesus shows us the way in Philippians 2:4-8.

MORE increase (Psalm 115:14).

This Scripture says, "The Lord shall INCREASE you MORE AND MORE, you and your children." God wants to increase you in every blessings He gives, and of course, the increase of children, too.

MORE judgment (1 Corinthians 6:3).

We sure need more discernment, don't we? We need to have more judgment of sin, rather than the tolerance that is accepted today.

MORE love (Song of Solomon 1:4; Mark 12:33; John 21:15; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:1-13; 2 Corinthians 2:4; 7:15; Philippians 1:9 and 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10; Revelation 2:19).

The Scriptures exhort us to abound MORE AND MORE in love. That's okay when people love us. But, what about when they don't? What if we are abused and spoken against falsely? This is when our limited love runs out, but God's limitless love pours in from His inexhaustible well. Let's continually draw from this well. There's always MORE AND MORE and it never runs dry.

Which MORES are convicting you today? I know I need MORE AND MORE of each one of them, so I'll keep pressing in. I'm not going to be satisfied with the norm.

Love from Nancy Campbell

A woman once wrote Gipsy Smith after an evangelistic campaign to tell him she had been converted as a result of one of his messages.

She said, "I believe the Lord wants me to preach the Gospel, Brother Smith, but the trouble is that I have 12 children to raise! What shall I do?

She received this letter in reply, "My dear lady, I am happy to hear that you have been saved and feel called to preach, but I am even more delighted to know that God has already provided you with a congregation of 12!"

Here are four more areas where God wants us to do or have MORE AND MORE.

MORE eternal rewards (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

This Scripture encourages us to look beyond the trials that we go through in life to see the eternal reward. Are you going through a difficult time? It seems as though it is forever, doesn't it? It feels heavy and bows you down. But, in the eyes of eternity, God calls it a "light affliction, which is but for a moment." As you trust God in your trials, look what it will do for you. It will work for you a "far MORE exceeding and eternal weight of glory." Isn't that amazing? Let's see everything we go through in life in the light of eternity. It makes all the difference.

MORE fellowship with believers (Hebrews 10:25).

Of all the animals that God created, He chose to call us His sheep. Over and over again He calls us His "flock" because sheep always stay together in a flock. A sheep cannot function independently. A sheep that gets separated from the flock is sad and irritable. When the sheep is found and put back with the flock it becomes contended and secure again. God intends us to have the flock mentality. He wants us to fellowship together to encourage and inspire one another, and also to sharpen one another to save us from getting off on the wrong track doctrinally. A person with a independent spirit has the goat mentality, and remember, it is the sheep who belong to the shepherd.

MORE fruitfulness (John 15:2, 5, 8)

God is a God of fruitfulness.

MORE gladness (Psalm 4:7).

David starts off this psalm telling how he was in distress. But, he didn't let his distress get to him. He focuses on God and his testimony becomes that he has more gladness than in the time of great harvest (and that's when they really rejoiced, danced, and made merry). The full understanding of "gladness" in the Hebrew is " blithesomeness or glee, exceeding joy, joyfulness, mirth, pleasure). God doesn't want us to be scraping the bottom of the barrel, but to have MORE!

Which MORE speaks to your heart today? Which one are you going to do MORE AND MORE of today?

Love from Nancy

Every day there is more and more to enter into in our journey in the land of God's kingdom. There is also more and more to enter into in our land of motherhood. We'll discover some MORE Scriptures today.

MORE blessings (Psalm 40:5; 139:17 and Luke 18:29-30).

They are MORE than can be numbered! Let's not forget to count all the little blessings of each day. The more we acknowledge our blessings, the more we will experience. And especially when you have children, you have a myriad of blessings happening around you all the time.

MORE boldness (Philippians 1:14).

We certainly need MORE boldness to proclaim God's truth in the midst of deception all around us, don't we? But, it is available to us in Christ.

MORE conquering (Romans 8:37).

I was sharing these 20 plus points with my grandchildren and asking which MORE they wanted more of. The boys all wanted MORE conquering! This is the life God has for us in His kingdom. Not only conquering, but MORE THAN CONQUERING over all evil, all deception, and all temptation of the flesh. Thank Him for His conquering spirit that is IN YOU because Christ dwells in you.

MORE diligence (Hebrews 2:1).

MORE diligence in the areas the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about. It maybe that you are needing more diligence in establishing daily Family Worship in your home, or more diligence in managing your home and keeping it clean, or more diligence in getting up in time to have a good start to the day and not let it run away with you. God will help you in whatever area He is speaking to you about.

Love from Nancy

MORE tomorrow.

We never get to the end in God's land. It never comes to a stalemate. It is always MORE AND MORE. Proverbs 4:18 says, “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth MORE AND MORE unto the perfect day.”

May God save us from dipping our toes in the shallow waters of God's vastness when there is an ocean of treasures of wisdom and understanding and more than we can ever dream of (Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9 and Colossians 2:2-3).

A friend of mine shared with me a true story of how her brother in New Zealand purchased some land, but it was only enough for a hobby farm. Years later, he decided to sell the land and only then found out that he actually owned another 10 acres that he didn't even know about. These acres were fertile and wonderful land and would have provided him a full income. But, he missed out because he didn't know what he owned! Often, we don't live in all that God has for us because we don't even know what we have! We've got to constantly seek God and His Word so we don't miss out.

Recently I checked out all the things that God wants us to have MORE of in His Word. I'll start with a couple today and share more during the week. There are over 20 of them so keep watching for them each day.

MORE abundant life (John 10:10).

The words "MORE ABUNDANTLY" in this Scripture come from the Greek word perissos which means, "exceedingly, above the normal, beyond measure, above and beyond, extraordinary." This is the life that God provides for us. It exceeds the normal. God doesn't want your marriage to be normal or average, but above the normal. He doesn't want you to be a "survival mother" but an "above the normal" mother. Press in for more and more each day. Always be pressing in for more of God and more of His understanding for you as a mother.

MORE angelic protection (2 Kings 6:16).

We certainly want more of this, don't we?

Love from Nancy

P.S. Look out for more tomorrow.

A dear friend shared with me today a beautiful understanding of God who is our El Shaddai which means "The Breasted One." She reminded us how when a baby is born, we as mothers long to nurse and nourish our baby and meet their every need. Where does this instinct come from? Of course, it comes from God who is El Shaddai. The understanding of this name also means, "The God who is Enough." He longs to supply our every need and His wells are inexhaustible. He waits for us to come and feed from Him so we can grow and mature. As 1 Peter 2:2 says, "As newborn babies, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby."

As I thought about this, I thought of the FAILURE TO THRIVE syndrome where a child has very low weight gain or low increase in weight gain. This is a serious condition. And yet so many are living in the SPIRITUAL Failure to Thrive syndrome. Our El Shaddai who waits and longs to pour out of His inexhaustible riches to satisfy and feed us often waits in vain. We do not come to Him. We do not come to His precious Word to feed. We take a little sip on Sunday when we go to church, but starve during the week! We eat three meals a day to satisfy our physical body, but except for a tiny crumb here and there, we starve our spirit!

What about our children? We wouldn't think of not feeding them three nutritious meals a day, but how often a day to we feed their spirit? This is the most important part of our children? We need to feed them God's Word at least every morning and evening, as we start and end the day. They can't grow "strong in spirit" on anything less (Luke 1:80).

May God save us from having a diagnosis of  "Failure to Thrive" over our lives. And please, may God save us as mothers from being guilty of putting our children in a position of "Failure to Thrive" because we starve their spiritual beings.

Love from Nancy