Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Have you started off smiling this year? Smiling at your husband? Smiling at your children? Maybe things are not going according to your plans and you don’t feel like smiling! Smile anyway. Did you know that smiles don’t depend on circumstances? Your circumstances may not change but as you smile your attitude will! It will change the atmosphere of your home. The more you smile at your family, the more they will smile back at you! #smile #smileanyway #praisegodinallthings #smilingfamily #aboverubies #nancycampbell

God's Word is the antidote to deception.

What kind of aromas fill your home? Sweet or bad smells? The flesh gives off sour, bitter, grumpy, and horrible smells, doesn't it? They make everyone in the home feel bad and want to run! But Christ in us is a sweet-smelling savor, and He wants us to exude His sweet aroma throughout the home. Most husbands love fragrant perfumes (well, my husband does), but more than perfumes, we should constantly wear the perfume of Christ in our lives.

II Corinthians 2:14 (J. B. Phillip's translation) always challenges me: "We should have about us the unmistakable scent of Christ." What’s the fragrance in your home? Are your husband and children avoiding you or running to you?

Isn’t this so true? We all want these beautiful things in our homes. But they don’t just appear. We must work at them to make them happen. May your home be filled with order, beauty, contentment, and godliness. #homeblessings #orderinthehome #contentment #godliness #agodlyhome #ilovehome #aboverubies

The next question we need to ask is: “what are you teaching your children? It's easy to get into the mode of packing information into your children's brains, the more the better! But "information" is not education. "Right thinking" is education. Unless your children know how to think correctly, information won't do them a lot of good.

Right thinking comes from God's Word—even though it is often contrary to how society thinks and what is taught in the public education system. Isaiah 55:8, 9 says: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

d) CEDARS RESIST DECAY AND REPEL PESTS
This is another wonderful feature of the cedar. Perhaps you are having a self-pity trip and dreaming that you deserve someone better than your husband. Resist this evil thought in the name of Jesus! Perhaps you think you could do better on your own. Repel this deceiving thought in Jesus name! Resist all resentment and negative thoughts about your marriage. Because the devil hates marriage, he roams about seeking to devour your unon. Don’t be deceived by his seducing temptations.

How often do you practice hospitality? Our God is an hospitable God and He longs to reveal His hospitable and generous heart through us, His people. #hospitality #practicehospitality #loveinaction #aboverubies #nancycampbell

When did you last say something encouraging to your husband? #encouragement #lovingwords #encouragingwords #upbuildingwords #sweetwords #affirmingwords #forgivingwords #aboverubies

Bright, positive, optimistic men make the best husbands and fathers. A gloomy, pessimistic person who cannot see the bright side of life is very difficult to live with. Who wants to hang around a person who is always down in the mouth, depressed, and negative about everything? I for one would not like to live a single day around such a person, let alone be married to one.

The children of Israel, having left the great oppression and “doom and gloom” of the slavery of Egypt, could not shake the negative mindset. It had become so ingrained into them over the years of their slavery. They were freed from their physical slave shackles, but were still mentally, emotionally, and spiritually slaves to fear and unbelief. All this negativity and unbelief eventually stopped them from entering into the Promised Land.

Oh touch the hem of His garment
And thou too shalt be free,
His saving power, this very hour
Shall give new life to thee.
#reachouttojesus #touchthehemofhisgarment #jesusisyourhealer #jesusreachesdowntothelowest #yourfaithhasmadeyouwhole #aboverubies #nancycampbell

Do you need some miracles in your marriage and family life? You don’t have to stay in the same rut. There is always a way out. Begin with some encouraging words. Even if you don’t feel like saying them. Think of a new and encouraging word each day—and SAY IT! Begin now! Say them. Write them. Text them. #encouragingwords #speaklife #speaklove #encouragement #sayiloveyou #sayiloveyoueveryday #expectmiracles #aboverubies #nancycampbell

“I beg your pardon. Are you talking to me?” That’s not me. I’m for ever failing and getting angry with the children.” Yes, I understand. The Bible says: “There is none that doeth good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:3 and Romans 3:10). True!

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5). True!

"There is more in a mother's hands than a king's scepter"

John 6:66-69: “From that time many of HIS DISCIPLES WENT BACK, AND WALKED NO MORE WITH HIM. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Ruth 1:14-17: “Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth cleaved unto her. And she said, behold, thy sister in law is GONE BACK UNTO HER PEOPLE, AND UNTO HER GODS: return thou after thy sister in law. And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

I love the line from the delightful children’s book by George MacDonald, “At the Back of the North Wind.” He says, “For our Selves will always do pretty well If we don’t pay them too much attention.” How true are these words. It is the same principle Jesus gave us in Mark 8:35: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.”

When we focus on ourselves--our own problems, sicknesses, and how to make ourselves happy we end up self-serving which pulls us down into the slough of self-pity and delusion. It is an eternal principle that when you forget about yourself and pour out your life for others you become fulfilled. You are happier and more relaxed, peaceful, hopeful, and content.