True Christianity is a one-anothering lifestyle.
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Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.
The popular opinion is not always the right one. Search for truth and stand for truth even when you are in the minority. “Let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).
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The Christian life is all about overcoming, conquering, getting the victory, and prevailing over sin and all evil. We cannot do this in our own strength but through the power of the life of Jesus Christ who dwells in us. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.”
Read Revelation 2:26, 3:5, 12, 21; 12:11; 15:2; and 21:7.
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Charles Hadden Spurgeon writes: "It would not be easy for some of us to recall the hour when we first heard the name of Jesus. In very infancy that sweet sound was as familiar to our ear as the hush of a lullaby. Our earliest recollections are associated with the HOUSE OF GOD, THE FAMILY ALTAR, THE HOLY BIBLE, THE SACRED SONG, and the FERVENT PRAYER."It was this foundation that produced a man such as Spurgeon.
Are your children experiencing these memories? Do you take them to the house of God every week. No excuses. No exceptions. It’s the habit of your life and therefore becomes the habit of your children’s lives.
Do you enjoy The Family Altar in your home? Help? What’s that?” you may ask. Many Christians have never heard that phrase. The Family Altar is another name for gathering together as a family each morning and evening to read God’s Word and pray together. You may call it something different in your family such as Bible Time, or Prayer Time, or Worship Time.
Years ago, it was always called The Family Altar. Of course, we don’t have an altar of wood or stone in our homes. But we make a time and place each day where we meet with God to hear Him speak to us and where we all call upon the Lord. This should be a memory of every child in a God-fearing family.
And it’s at The Family Altar where your children will experience the memories of Bible Reading, singing hymns and worship songs together, and praying together.
These were Spurgeon’s memories that set him on a path to bring God’s word to millions of people. Will your children have these memories?
Have a beautiful day with your children in your home today,
Nancy Campbell
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What an awesome blessing. Pray this prayer over your precious baby growing in your womb. It is even be better to pray together with your husband. Ask him to lay his hands upon your womb and pray over you every day of your pregnancy. If you have a friend who is pregnant, you could also pray this prayer for them."Father, I thank You for filling my womb with life. I know this precious little baby comes from You and has been destined by You from the beginning of the world. I thank You for this miracle growing inside me in the "secret place" of my womb. I thank You that You are giving this little baby to us as a gift, but also as a gift for the world. We can't wait to see another image of Yourself come forth into this world and the plans You have for this child.
“We ask you, Father, in Jesus' name, to hedge our little baby about with Your mighty protection. Watch over this little one each day as You intricately create him/her in the hidden sanctuary of my womb. Please sustain me in good health and vitality throughout this whole pregnancy.
“Please fill me with Your joy and that everyone will see the glory of God upon me as I nurture this precious life within me. Thank You again for this amazing miracle and for giving my husband and me an eternal soul that will live forever. It is awesome to think that I am part of something eternal. I pray that You will keep this baby growing in the womb until FULL TERM and this baby will come forth in Your perfect timing. In Jesus' name. Amen."
Dear pregnant Mommy, may God pour out His blessing and refreshing on you each new day,
Nancy Campbell
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What a joy and privilege. Dear mother, you are blessed beyond measure. God is so good. When He gives you a precious new baby, He doesn’t leave you to manage on your own. He fills you with wonderful hormones to help you in this God-given task.When you nurse your baby, you produce prolactin and oxytocyn. They are called the love hormones. They are also called the anti-stress hormones. Who would like to be filled with anti-stress hormones? Well, embrace nursing babies!
God doesn’t intend women to be high-powered, stressed-out women in the workforce. He designed them to have His anointing of peace upon them (Isaiah 66:11-13). Do you realize that the more your nurse your baby, the more prolactin and oxytocyn you produce? Therefore, you become more loving and motherly. The more relaxed you become. Your brain marinates with dopamine and therefore feelings of pleasure. And without having to take a pill, God-induced anti-stress hormones fill your brain and body.
Who wouldn’t want to be a mother? Don’t miss out on all the blessings God has for you. Don’t only nurse your baby for food. Nurse your baby to console, comfort, delight, and satisfy his God-given sucking instinct. Don’t use a pacifier which is a mother substitute. Don’t try to wean your baby too soon. Let your baby wean when he is ready. Bask in the joys of God’s blessing hormones as long as you can. It is your inheritance as a mother.
Sadly, Satan wants to rob women of the fullness of motherhood that God planned for them. He comes to rob, kill, and destroy. Don’t let him rob you. Embrace all that God has for you. Live in the glory of your motherhood.
God bless you in your mothering today,
Nancy Campbell
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The BEST infant seat is mother’s arms,
The BEST baby swing is mother’s lap in a rocking chair, The BEST stroller is mother’s body, The BEST nursery record is mother’s own heartbeat, The BEST lullaby record is mother’s singing, and of course, The BEST food, pacifier, electric warmer,and tranquilizer can be found at the mother’s breast.
~ Sally Simmons, Nebraska.
Printed with permission from LLL News
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It's amazing that King Hezekiah turned out a godly man. His father, Ahaz, was a very wicked king and even sacrificed his own children to Molech. He was so wicked that when he died, they did not even bury him in the sepulchers of the kings of Israel. But Hezekiah, his son "wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God" (2 Chronicles 29:1, 2 and 31:20, 21).
Why did he turn out to be a righteous king? 2 Kings 18:1-6 tells us: "Hezekiah . . . reigned 29 years in Jerusalem. HIS MOTHER'S NAME ALSO WAS ABI (shortened version of Abijah), the daughter of Zachariah. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord." He obviously had a godly mother. A mother's influence is powerful. It is interesting that when the Bible writes about the kings of Israel and Judah it begins by stating whether they were wicked or good--and includes the name of their mother! The mother's influence determined the course of their lives, and ultimately the destiny of the nation.
Perhaps your husband is not walking in the ways of God. Do not give up. Keep pouring God's truths into your children. Live your godly life before them. Pray for them daily. God has chosen you to steer them in the ways of God.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
Painting: "A Mother's Love" by Carol Gartzman Gooberman
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We talked yesterday about knowing God. The Scriptures translate it “Know Him in ALL YOUR WAYS” (Proverbs 3:6). What does it say? ALL your ways. That means ALL the practical ways of our lives. We can often feel very close to God when we are on our own with our Bible and no distractions. In fact, we can feel very spiritual. But what about when we get back in the fray? In the midst of babies, toddlers, tantrums, teens, frustrations, and overwhelmingness! How can we know God then?Dear mother, God wants you to KNOW HIM in all your mothering ways. Let’s get to the reality of life. God is the One who created our bodies. He wondrously, intricately, and amazingly created them to carry and nurture life in our wombs, to give birth, to pour out life and sustenance from our breasts, and to mother and teach our children. We are created, called, chosen, ordained, designated, and destined—physically, emotionally, and spiritually— for this purpose.
Therefore, as we realize this divine truth (and can I please interrupt my sentence here--it is a divine truth although our humanistic society does not embrace it). Because it is God’s plan the enemy wants to rob us from it. When he robs us of this truth, he robs us of our full understanding of God. As we embrace this divine truth, we come to find out more and more who God is like. And the more we embrace His ways for us as wives and mothers, the more He reveals to us and leads us in His paths.
Seek with all your heart to KNOW GOD in the way He created you. Discover all the amazing hormones He gives to you when you are pregnant. Experience the blessed hormones He gives you while you nurse your baby. God is wrapped up in all your mothering. You miss knowing much of who God really is when you discard your mothering ways for other ways.
Let’s be those who know God and who He created us to be and how He created us to function.
Be blessed,
Nancy Campbell
P.S. Here are some links you may like to check out:
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I am sure you have memorized and have taught your children Proverbs 3:5, 6: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” These are good Scriptures to memorize as a family, aren’t they?Although I have known these Scriptures from a child, it was only in recent years that I discovered that the word “acknowledge” is “yada” in the Hebrew. This is far more than a casual acknowledgement of God. It means to know God in an intimate way. This same word is used of sexual intimacy. We read how God knew Abraham in a personal relationship (Genesis 18:19), He spoke with Moses face to face (Exodus 33:17 and Deuteronomy 34:10), and He knew Jeremiah in the womb (Jeremiah 9:23, 24).
We can only experience God’s true direction in our lives as we KNOW Him. If we have put God into our little box and made Him a god of our own understanding, we will end up on a deceived path. We must pursue knowing God.
And dear mothers, we must seek above all things to teach our children to KNOW God, not only know about Him. When God spoke to the little boy, Samuel in the temple 1 Samuel 3:7 states: “Now Samuel did not yet know (yada) the LORD.” Samuel lived in the temple with the priests but didn’t know God personally yet.
Your children can grow up in your godly home and know about God, and yet miss KNOWING Him personally. Pray that they will come to know God intimately. Fill them with the Scriptures daily because it is the Word that makes them “wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:17). Make sure you are revealing to them the God of the Bible, not a god of your own making. They will only know God’s ultimate direction upon their lives as they know God truly and intimately.
Be blessed,
Nancy Campbell
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Here are seven tips to remember when cooking your meals:1. MAKE IT SIMPLE
You do not need to cook an extravagant meal. You can do this for special occasions. A basic meal at our home consists of a choice of meat, two or three different vegetables either steamed or sauteed, and a salad. I love to include lots of vegetables. A baked potato meal is a nice change. Bake potatoes and make lots of different fillings to add. Each member of the family can choose the fillings they like best. This is even fun to do with visitors if you make lots of interesting fillings.
2. MAKE IT NUTRITIOUS
Eliminate all refined foods. Use brown rice instead of white. Grind your grains freshly and back your own bread if possible. Do not over-cook your vegetables—steam them or short cook them in a tiny amount of water. Or raw! Children prefer eating raw carrots than cooked.
3. MAKE IT TASTY
This is the secret. Food must taste delicious. Delicious food is the spice of life. Bland food is boring. Gradually stock up on your herbs and spices and experiment! Be imaginative! Try a bit of this and a bit of that! It is the enchantment of cooking! If you use your spices and herbs sparingly at the beginning you won’t spoil a dish by using the wrong ones, but you’ll gradually find what works best. In our home we like our foods HOT AND SPICY, but you will do it to your own taste.
4. MAKE IT FULL OF AROMA
The spices and herbs and the smell of the meal cooking should draw everyone to the kitchen and make them hungry for the meal.
5. MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE
Coordinate your meal so you have different colors and always arrange your food attractively, whether on each plate or in serving dishes for the family to help themselves. Use herbs, flowers, and leaves to decorate. Set the table nicely and welcomingly. Your children can do this task and teach them to do it creatively and beautifully.
6. MAKE PLENTY
It is better to have more than you need than not enough. If you have extra, it’s great for leftovers for lunch the next day, or you can freeze it for another meal. However, the idea in cooking plenty is to be ready for that unexpected guest or person who needs a meal.
7. MAKE A SALAD
Make a big salad at least once a day, either for lunch or for supper.
Most of all, have fun! Instead of preparing meals as a chore, embrace the challenge of making the most nutritious, attractive, delicious, exciting meal you could ever make!
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
P.S. I’d love to hear some of your tips.
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We find one of the most amazing incidents in the Bible in Exodus 24:9-11 God gives an invitation, not only to Moses, but also to Aaron, his sons, and the seventy elders of Israel to come up to Him on the mountain. They had just seen the power of God on the mountain when God came down to give the Ten Commandments. They had quaked with fear as they watched the mountain smoke like a furnace, they had trembled as they felt the earthquake, and their hearts had melted when they heard the trumpet blast louder and louder. God had commanded that no one must “touch the border of it: whosoever touches the mount shall be surely put to death” (Exodus 19:12).And yet now they have been invited to come up on this fearful mountain. Wow! How would you feel? I think I would have obeyed with great fear and trepidation. Let us read what happened.
Exodus 24:9-11: “Then went u Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drank.”
I have to say “Wow!” again! They ate a meal in the presence of God. The New Bible Commentary comments on this passage. “A sacrifice involved a sacrificial meal, and Moses, following the command of verse 1, took the elders up the mount, there to eat the flesh of the sacrifice and so to commune with the God to whom it was offered. While they were eating God granted to them, as a token of His favor, a vision of Himself which revealed Him as the God who not only thunders in wrath at all iniquity, but whose glory is also manifested in surpassing loveliness.”
Once again, it was WHILE THEY WERE EATING that God revealed Himself and gave them a glimpse of His glory. The NLT says: “they ate as covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!”
Exodus 33:20 tells us that: “no man shall see me, and live” so they obviously did not see the pure fullness of God’s glory but were privileged to behold a reflection of His dazzling splendor, all while they ate and communed in the presence of God.
God not only visits people at church. He longs to visit them at their tables. God wants to bring His presence to your table too. He delights to join you. Do you invite Him? Do you expect Him to be with you? It will make all the difference to your mealtimes.
Have a beautiful day,
Nancy Campbell
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“May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace” (Psalm 144:12 NLT).THE CORNERSTONE
“That our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace” (Psalm 144:12).
Daughters as pillars so fixed and grounded
With roots in a rock immovably founded,
An ancient faith and an ancient quarry
Has brought them forth to Heaven’s glory.
For Sarah’s daughters are pillars of life,
Not dead pillars of salt like Lot’s backslidden wife,
Look forward and not back with hearts ablaze
To see your house of God filled with praise.
Stand strong in faith and uphold the roof
That shields from storm and welcomes truth,
For pillars sculptured in palace style
Will stand the test of time and trial.
As one great pillar made of pearl
You stand a witness to the world,
That the worth of the kingdom far excels
The worth pursued on other trails.
With faith unbending and eyes on Him
Who redeemed you to Himself from sin,
Let fulfillment’s greatest goal be found
That on the cornerstone be placed the crown.
~ Brayden and Tali Waller
What is the cornerstone? The cornerstone is the foundation of the home. In building the home all other stones are set from this foundation stone, thus determining the entire structure. It is the crown. We as mothers are the cornerstones of our home and are training our daughters for this great task. Rejoice today in the great commission God has given you.
~ Nancy
Brayden and Tali are organizing the coming Above Rubies Family Retreat in Missouri THIS COMING WEEKEND! You can still come at the last minute! Would love to see you!
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What is your heart doing at this time in our nation? Are you horrified? Are you grieving? Are you gathering your family to pray for this nation and the world each day? Are you gathering others to pray with you?How can we carry on life as normal when we are facing oppression from an illegitimate government? They want to bring back lockdowns, masks, and make an experimental vacc-sin-ation mandatory. Our nation is guilty of mass murdering of the unborn, sex trafficking, homosexuality, and now transgender is even advocated in our schools. How do we get used to the fact that same-sex marriage is law in our nation? Do we really see sin like God sees it?
I think of how King Josiah responded after hearing the words of the “book of the law.” When he heard of God’s judgments upon the sin of the land, he wept and tore his clothes. God saw his repentance and humility and said to him: “Because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I Myself have heard you” (2 Kings 22:19).
What about these Scriptures?
Psalm 119:53: “HORROR has taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.”
Psalm 119: 136: “RIVERS OF WATER run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.”
Psalm 119:158: “I beheld the transgressors, and was GREIEVED; because they kept not thy word.”
What did Ezra do when he found sin amongst the people of God? “When I heard this, I tore my cloak and my shirt, pulled my hair from my head and beard, and sat down utterly shocked” (Ezra 8
Ezekiel talks about those who “sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst” (Ezekiel 9:4) and the “sighers” and “criers” were the only ones who escaped God’s judgment.
Paul writes in Romans 12:9: “ABHOR that which is evil.” The word “abhor” in the Greek means to ‘SHUDDER WITH HORROR.” Do we shudder?
I have to confess that I haven’t been tearing my clothes, but I am burdened to pray. I don’t believe we can carry on life as per normal unless we don’t understand what is happening.
I am sorry this is not a nice, comforting post, but we’ve got to face the facts, dear friends. We are facing tyranny and total dominion of our bodies in what is supposed to be a free nation. Nehemiah cried out in his time: “Also they have dominion over our bodies . . . at their pleasure, and we are in great distress” (Nehemiah 9:37).
If we as God’s people are not mightily affected by the sin in the land, if our hearts are not grieved to tears, if we don’t shudder with horror at evil, and if we are not concerned enough to cry out to God in repentance, we are not much different from the world (Jeremiah 10:25).
Are our hearts hardened because we get used to the sin and worldliness all around us? Or do we have soft, tender hearts. Oh, I want to walk in the in the fear of the Lord, don’t you? I want a weeping heart over sin (in my own life, in my family, in the church, and in the nation).
Let’s get to prayer,
Nancy Campbell
Scriptures to ponder: 2 Chronicles 7:14; Ezra 9:1-3; Isaiah 66:2; Jeremiah 9:17-21; Ezekiel 9:3-11; Amos 5:15; Joel 2:16-18; James 4:8-10; and 1 Peter 1:17.
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The humanistic worldview in our society makes mothers feel insignificant. They are told they should do something worthwhile with their lives. This is opposite to God’s plan. God designed women for the home—to raise His children in the home (yes, they are ultimately God’s children), to influence their children for God and His truth, and to make their home a sanctuary that is strong and secure against the storms of this life.The words of Zechariah 13:7 also apply to motherhood: “Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” Just as the shepherd is essential for the survival of his sheep and lambs, so mothers are indispensable for their children.
Satan’s plan is to smite motherhood and scatter the mother shepherds out of the home. When he lures mothers away from their home, he can then turn against “the little ones” and entice them to his thinking and ways.
It is sad that many have fallen for Satan’s trap. It is time for watchdog, protective, lion-like, standing strong, never-giving-into-deception mothers to arise. Mothers who will not be moved from their homes and who will guard their children and homes with all diligence.
Don’t be lured away, dear mother. No one, no matter how professional they are, can ever replace you! You are more important than you realize.
Blessings to you today,
Nancy Campbell
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I promised I would also share with you what we should do if visitors who come into our home with different standards than we do. I often wondered what to do about this until I discovered the Scriptures. Isn’t it wonderful? God gives us the answer on any situation we need to know about.Sometimes people come into our home and allow their children to jump on the furniture. Children would ruj into rooms and touch things they shouldn’t. Some people are used to having TV going in the background all day! Help. The day is for work. Not for wasting time looking at junk. Some visitors come to the table with their iPhones as that’s what they do in their homes. They may even place them on their knee under the table where they keep looking down to check them. They can’t leave them unattended for a minute!
So, what should we do?
This is what the Scriptures say:
Exodus 12:49, 50: "One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. Thus did all the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they."
The ESV makes it clearer: “One law shall be to him who is born at home, and to the stranger who lives as foreigner among you.”
Therefore, I will sweetly and gently tell the folks that this is the standard we have for our home and would they mind joining with us? If you ask people very nicely, they are usually happy to comply. If not, well, they’ll have to anyway!
Here are some more Scriptures:
Numbers 9:14: "Ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land."
Numbers 15:15, 16: "One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance forever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger before the Lord. One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you."
Numbers 15:29: "Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them."
Does this help you a little?
Be blessed,
Nancy Campbell
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Regarding my recent posts about managing our homes, some have asked what we do for our family devotions each day. We gather together each morning and evening and we usually read THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH. We use this devotional because it is only the Scriptures. It gives Scriptures on a certain theme for every morning and every evening of every day in the year. All you need to do is go to the date and the Scriptures are waiting for you to read! Isn’t that great? It’s so great, especially for husbands who may not know where to read in the Bible. It’s all waiting for themWhen my husband reads, he asks lots of questions to get everyone involved. It’s important to make sure everyone is participating so they don’t fall into a dream and twiddle their thumbs with boredom. It’s easy for any of us to do this unless we are kept alert.
We always have our Bible reading at the end of the meal. I have found this such a blessing because you have the whole family together at the meal table. And the physical meal prepares us for the spiritual meal. In the Netherlands Christian families call their Bible reading time “Finishing up the Meal.” They wouldn’t leave the table until they had not only nurtured their physical bodies but fed their soul and spirit. The table is a place where we feed the whole man—body, soul, and spirit. If we allow our children to leave the table before we have fed them spiritually, we are letting the go half-fed!
We begin our reading before we have cleared the table. Truly? With all the dishes still on the table? Yes. I find that if everyone starts scraping plates, stacking dishes, and taking them to the counter, it breaks the whole atmosphere, and I can never get anyone back to the table again. So, I don’t let them leave! We don’t even notice the dishes on the table. This is an important secret.
After reading and sharing together, we all pray. Yes, everyone, right down to the littlest one who is just learning to talk. We learn to pray by praying. Prayer should be as familiar as breath to our children. They should grow up praying aloud. I also use Prayer Boxes on different issues which give ideas of subjects for the children to pray about. And then we sing a worship song or a hymn together.
I have two DAILY LIGHTS available through Above Rubies which you can purchase.
THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH * PLUS CREATIVE WAYS TO READ GOD’S WORD TO YOUR CHILDREN (KJV)
This book has ideas at the beginning of each month on how you can keep your children “on their toes” and listening. You will find them most helpful.
Or
THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH (NKJV)
This book has the same Scriptures but does not list the ideas.
May you be blessed and encouraged.
Nancy Campbell
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Here are a few more practical guidelines I found helpful in raising our children and which I still continue today. I know you may have different priorities, because we are all different, but here are some of mine.1. I don’t allow children to jump on the furniture and on their beds. This does not teach our children how to care for things or how to act in someone else’s home.
2. I don’t allow children to eat food in their bedrooms or anywhere in the house except at the dining room table or in the kitchen. This only makes so much more work for you in cleaning house—crumbs around the house and marks on the carpet etc.
3. I allowed my children to be “children” and didn’t get at them for many of the stupid and childish things they did. However, I disciplined for disobedience, willfulness, rebellion, lying, and things that God hates.
4. I trained the children to do their chores with a smile and a good attitude. They would be given another task until they showed the right attitude. Of course, they learn this mostly from YOUR OWN ATTITUDE TOWARD WORK. You show by your actions and attitude that you LOVE WORK, and it is a God-given blessing.
5. I expect everyone to be at the dinner table on time! Not coming when they feel like it. They must be there the moment I call, although usually by this time the children are in the kitchen with you helping you with the meal and putting it on the table.
6. I expect ALL children and EVERYONE living in our home to join us for family devotions. One time, a young man was staying with us for a week or so. The night before he left, he said he wouldn’t have time for Bible reading and prayer as he wanted to pack his bag. It was only an excuse as he had done nothing all day and had plenty of time after devotions, I certainly didn’t let him off the hook!
7. I don’t allow the children to jump up and down during the mealtime but to stay seated until the end.
8. I don’t allow children to whisper to someone privately at the table or to have their own conversations while others are talking. That is rude. We all focus on the one conversation so we can enjoy “togetherness.”
9. I don’t allow chewing gum in my home. Please understand that this is not a “thus saith the Lord.” It is my preference. I simply cannot stand finding chewing gum stuck to the floor or under chairs etc. I’ve scraped it off too many times! Therefore, I don’t allow it in the home. Period. Personally, I don’t like to see people chewing gum anyway. I don’t think it equates with royalty, and aren’t we training our children to be princes and princesses in God’s royal kingdom?
10. When the children grew older and were still living at home, I expected them to be home for the evening meal and family devotions unless they let me know in time and it was a valid excuse. I expected them (and still expect anyone living in our home) to tell me where they are going and what time they will be home. And I have certain time guidelines for them to be in at night.
Does this sound rather rigid? No, they are underlying guidelines so we can be free to enjoy life together in peace and happiness. I am sure you have many other ideas to share.
Be blessed,
Nancy Campbell
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Last week I wrote a couple of posts about keeping order in our homes. These fundamental guidelines change with times and seasons. I had different “rules” when the children were little than when they grew older.Also, I don’t like to give plans for other households as I believe each one will manage their homes uniquely to their personality. Plus, as I shared last week, I believe the Holy Spirit is the greatest guide in showing us how He wants us to effectively run our homes.
However, I will give you a few tips that I have found helpful over the years. My children are now all out of the home, married with their own children. But we still have young people living in our home (Above Rubies helpers) and visitors continually staying and coming and going. Do I have the same values for visitors? I’ll share that with you in another post.
I believe in getting up at a decent hour, not sleeping in! You can’t manage a home effectively if you sleep in. The best part of the day is gone before you even start. Wake up time will be a different time in every home and at the different seasons and ages of your children. That means children need to be up by a certain time also. And that means getting to bed at a reasonable hour the night before.
Currently I like to get into the kitchen about 7.30 am. I read and pray before this of course. I expect everyone living in the home to have breakfast before 8.00 am when we commence Family Devotions together. I revolve my day around PRIORITIES. Family Devotions, both morning and evening, are the highest priority in my day. Therefore, I plan the order of my day around them. That’s why everyone must be up in time. No sleeping in. I hate sleeping in myself but allow our young people to sleep in on the weekends.
After Family Devotions, we begin the day. Mothers with children will make sure basic chores are completed such as cleaning the kitchen and getting laundry going and then begin homeschooling.
Lunch time comes and we allow an hour for lunch and clean up. Larger families will most probably need longer to prepare, eat, and clean up.
For me, after lunch, it’s back to the office to keep writing and keep Above Rubies going. Mothers may continue homeschooling, although usually they can all be finished by lunchtime. The afternoon is a wonderful time for projects, gardening, research, creative ideas, errands, visiting someone in need and so on. And rest time for little ones.
I like to be in the kitchen again no later than 5.00 to prepare for the evening meal. This is a huge priority for me. I know that Family Devotions won’t work unless I prepare for it. It is such a blessing to have the evening meal ready for when your husband comes home so you can all eat together and at the end of the meal, enjoy time reading God’s Word and praying together. These things don’t happen unless you make them happen.
And tomorrow I will tell you a load of practical things—things I like and things I don’t like.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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Dear mother, don’t despise cooking! It’s a very big pat of your mothering anointing and it’s never a waste of time. It is nurturing and blessing your family and everyone who comes into your home. Do it with joy. And be encouraged by this little poem.We may live without poetry, music, and art;
We may live without conscience and live without heart;
We may live without friends, we may live without books;
But civilized man cannot live without cooks.
He may live without books, - what is knowledge but grieving?
He may live without hope, - what is hope but deceiving?
He may live without love, - what is passion but pining?
But where is the man that can live without dining?
By Owen Meredith
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