Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

A —ATTENTIVE, as one should always be so that others may have your attention.

 

B —BEHAVIOUR, benign and beautiful.

 

C —CUSHION each cup of tea (or coffee) with courtesy.

 

D —DELIGHT everyone with your presence.

 

E —EFFORT, which must appear effortless.

 

F —FORFEIT selfishness.

 

G—GENERATE love and understanding.

 

H—HEARTACHE, avoid it with diplomacy.

 

I—INCLUDE a good sense of humor.

 

J —Just be nice.

 

K—KEEP on the good side of things.

 

L —LISTEN and look a person in the eye.

 

M—MANNERS MAKETH MAN, a motto worth remembering.

 

N —NEVER be negative.

 

O —OFFER to help.

 

P —“PLEASE” gives pleasure .

 

Q —QUARELLING is out of the question.

 

R —RESPECT the opinions and feelings of others.

 

S — SHAKE hands with a firm grip as you say, “How do you do?”

 

T — TALK, never out of turn.

 

U —UNDERSTAND what is acceptable.

 

V —VICTORY is yours if you play by the rules.

 

W—WECOME them with a doormat bearing such an inscription.

 

X —X-it with a “God bless you.”

 

Y —YAWNING must be stifled with a hand.

 

Z —ZAP them with a smile.

 

Printed from Above Rubies, 1984.

There are little feet that follow

In my footsteps every day,

Their little voices echo

So much of what I say.

 

Sometimes I’m not too happy

With all the things I see,

Then I began to realize

That they’re imitating me.

 

My patience seems to falter

And I speak with too much haste –

‘Til I hear the Savior speaking

When I look into each face.

 

Oh God, please grant me wisdom

As I train each little one,

Help me set a good example

As You yourself have done.

 

I would not ask for riches

Or that they famous be,

But may each find Christ as Savior

And live each day for Thee.

 

Amen!

 

Painting by Jessica Zemsky

 

Printed from Above Rubies, September 1986.

Did you know that feeding is more than food? Yes, that’s huge, but there’s even more. Do you remember when Jesus went down to Lake Galilee to find His disciples after He had risen from the dead? Yes, He knew where He’d find them. They were out fishing again. He cooked a lovely breakfast for them on the shore and then called them eat. Hang on a minute? Who was cooking breakfast? Jesus! The One who had risen from the dead, conquered death and hell! And what is He doing?

 

You’ve got it right. He’s cooking! And you thought cooking was a little too insignificant for you? But Jesus knew that cooking precedes important things. He wanted to give a special word to Peter and so He prepared him a meal first. “When they had dined” He spoke to him (John 21:15).

 

Three times Jesus asked Peter to feed His lambs and His sheep. Two times He used a word that means “to feed.” But one time He used are far more encompassing word. It’s the word “poimaino” and means to feed and tend as a shepherd (John 21:15-17). What is involved in a shepherd feeding and caring for his sheep?

 

Let’s look at the fulness of the word: Apart from feeding, it means to bind up the hurting and broken, to carry close to your heart, to comfort, to encourage, to defuse fears, to gather in your arms, to guide, to keep safe, to nourish, to lead to green and lush pastures, to prepare a table, to provide (renewing, reviving, and refreshing), to sacrifice and lay down your life for your little flock, to strengthen, and to tenderly fold your flock.

 

Jesus wanted His newborn lambs and sheep in the flock to be fully tended and fed. It is part of His nature. We see this picture in Isaiah 40:11: “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”

 

This is also the motherhood anointing. Shepherding is not a part time job. It is a lifestyle. We sacrifice our lives to tend to our little lambs and our big sheep. In fact, we never stop feeding. It should be our continual lifestyle even as our children grow and begin their own families.

 

Jesus never stops feeding. Even in eternity He continues to feed us. Don’t you love these words? “For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall FEED them (poimaino – the same word that speaks of the fullness of shepherding), and shall lead them into living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.”

 

One more thought for today. Acts 20:11 tells us that “When Paul had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.” Do you notice how talking goes with eating? Feeding our families is eating and talking together, eating and teaching, eating and laughing, eating and fellowshipping, eating and opening up the Scriptures. It all happens at meal times.

 

What are you planning for your evening meal this evening? Not just the food. What are you planning to talk about? What vision do you have as you bring your family together this evening?

 

Love from Nancy Campbell

Dear Nurturer, don’t despise the time you spend in the kitchen. I know you sometimes you feel as though you spend half your life in the kitchen cooking! Well, praise the Lord! You are doing what you are meant to be doing. You are cherishing and nourishing the children God gave to you. You are in His perfect will. You are being like God Himself.

 

God loves to feed His people. God’s Word is filled with the subject of food and feeding. Acts 14:17 says: “Nevertheless He (God) left not himself without witness, in that he did GOOD, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, FILLING OUR HEARTS WITH FOOD AND GLADNESS.” The word food is “trophe” meaning nourishment. God loves to nourish us. He even nourishes the little sparrows and then reminds us how much more He will feed us (Matthew 6:26).

 

God not only loves to feed us physically but also our inner man. Do you notice that He wants to fill us with gladness too? Food and gladness couple together. Food and fellowship are twins. Eating is more than eating food. It is communicating with one another. We are not meant to eat food on our own. God wants us to gather our family (and others too) around our table to communicate and fellowship as we eat. This fills our hearts with gladness.

 

As we minister food to our family, let’s not only think of physical food, but food for their souls and spirits. Think of nourishing the whole man. Think of ways to nourish your children mentally, emotionally, and spiritually at your table. Enlarge your vision. Begin to see your table how God sees it.

 

Jesus came to this earth “eating and drinking.” He was always fellowshipping at a table with people. So often when we read of him sitting at the table, the Bible goes on to say, “And he said . . .” The table was where Jesus loved to tell parables, teach, and give understanding of the Scriptures.

 

Even after Jesus rose from the dead and suddenly stood in the midst of His disciples, He asked for something to eat. He still loved to eat in His resurrection body. “And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and of a honey comb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them . . .” Once again, we see Him talking with his disciples as they ate together and He “opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:36-49).

 

I love the words of Luke 4:16: “And Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.” The words “brought up” are translated “trepho” which means “to give su.ck, to nourish, to support, nurture.” Jesus came back to his home where he had been nourished—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

 

What memories will your children have when they grow up? Will they have memories of a nourishing home? Where they were nourished with delectable, delicious, and wholesome food? Where they were nourished in their souls? Where their spirits were daily fed with the Word of God? Where they lived in an atmosphere of healing? Because to nourish is to heal! Body, soul, and spirit.

 

Make this your prayer for your children: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your WHOLE SPIRIT AND SOUL AND BODY be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

 

I send God’s blessings and healing to your home today,

 

Nancy Campbell

I recently talked to a friend from a different state who was staying in our home. As I spread the tablecloth in readiness for supper, she said “I don’t know one other mother amongst my homeschooling group who uses tablecloths.”

 

“Do you like naked tables?” I asked.

 

Just as I clothe myself, I love to clothe my table when we sit to eat. Dear young mothers with little darlings all around you, please don’t turn off as you read this. It is possible to use tablecloths even when your children are little. You can purchase a pretty tablecloth and a large piece of clear plastic. Place the plastic over the tablecloth and all you need to do is wipe it down at the end of the meal. You need to wipe down the table anyway, and it’s just as easy to wipe the plastic. Even better, you can purchase heavy plastic in beautiful designs and have it cut to the size of your table.

 

There are seasons in life. Now the children have grown, I no longer need to use plastic. I am amazed that I don’t have to wash my tablecloth every time we sit for a meal. I find I can use it several times before I notice marks on it. Plus, I like to use different tablecloths throughout the week.

 

I have a great supply of tablecloths and look for them at Goodwill. I have pretty pieces of material I use as tablecloths. I have some that have been given as gifts, but I’ve never spent a lot of money on them.

 

Do you know that it is possible to set a beautiful table even when you don’t have much? Get your children involved. They love to make things beautiful, and they are very creative. It may not look professional, but it will be special. Get them to go outside and find some flowers or greenery to put in a vase for the table. Teach them how to set the table correctly. Give each child a turn and encourage them to make the table as creative as they can. It will become a competition with the children to see who can make it the best.

 

Children should see that the table is the heart of the home. The more effort we put into making it beautiful, the more these memories will be implanted into their hearts.

 

I think we have placed a low status upon the table in our society today. Let’s lift the standard. I remember reading in John McCain’s book, “Faith of my Fathers” about how his parents came to each evening meal dressed for the occasion, his father in an evening suit and his mother in a long evening gown. I’m not saying we should do this, but it showed the importance they placed on the family meal table back in those days.

 

Of course, the children are far more important than the tablecloth and plates. But don’t negate these things, dear mothers. Even if you can’t do it in your most busy seasons (maybe a new baby in the home), do it as you can.

 

My goal for every meal is to “Make every meal a love affair.”

 

Love from Nancy Campbell

Are you mothering in your home?

If I had known in the morning

How wearily all the day

The word unkind

Would trouble my mind

I said when you went away,

I had been more careful, Darling,

Nor given you needless pain!

But we vex our own

With a look and tone

We might never take back again.

 

For though in the quiet evening,

You may give the kiss of peace

Yet it might be

That never for me

The pain of the heart should cease.

How many go forth in the morning

That never come back at night!

And hearts have been broken

For harsh words spoken

That sorrow can ne’er set right.

 

We have careful thoughts for the stranger,

And smiles for the sometimes guest,

But oft for our own

The bitter tone,

Though we love our own the best.

Ah, lips with the curve impatient!

Ah, brow with the look of scorn!

It were a cruel fate

Were the night too late

To undo the work of the morn.

 

~ Margaret Sangster

 

Reprinted from Above Rubies, #5 1978

A long time ago, I planned to be

an artist or celebrity . . .

 

A song I thought to write one day,

And all the world would homage pay,

I longed to write a famous book,

But what I did was learn to cook.

 

For life with simple tasks is filled,

And I have done, not what I willed,

Yet when I see boys' hungry eyes,

I'm glad I make good apple pies!

 

From Above Rubies magazine #9, 1979

A little message from Chrissy DeClue:

 

I was matching socks, and a friend came over to just say hi. She started talking about how she complains about mismatched socks. I told her about how I pray over my children and their socks as I match them and make sure they know I care for them when I ask for them to put them away.

 

CHRISSY DECLUE

If you scroll down you will see PRAYER REQUEST from Tara Fox for her friend’s husband who is in desperate need of a miracle. Here is an update from Natasha, his wife.

 

KEEP PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE

 

“Thank you for praying. We sure appreciate the prayers. Because of bad varicose veins, my husband developed a huge clot on January 29. There wasn’t enough circulation in his leg, and it kept infecting so he was on antibiotics for an extended period of time which allowed C diff to overrun his guts.

 

He was at work when he suddenly became short of breath and felt like passing out. We called an ambulance because we feared it was a pulmonary embolism, but it turns out to be worse. He had severe sceptic shock. He was taken to Kelvington Hospital where he was given anti-nausea, a bag of antibiotic, and a bag of saline, ransom lab work, and an x-ray and then was released in horrible condition.

 

I called the second ambulance that picked them up and en route his bp was 46/38. We nearly lost him!! The med staff in Tisdale saved his life. They put so much fluid in him that it flooded into his lungs. And now he is fighting pneumonia. His kidneys shut down. His liver shut down. He was swollen and turned yellow. He had a myocardial infection (heart attack). It took them hours to stabilize him enough to airlift to St. Paul’s. They called in a plane because it was faster than the helicopter. Then He had four ICU docs looking after him in trauma 1. It took them 13 1/2 hours to stabilize him. He certainly is not out of the woods yet.

 

Please keep praying.”

 

Let’s all keep praying for a miracle, Nancy

Molly Lilja tells the story of the funeral of an Above rubies mother.

 

Recently I attended my friend Nicole’s memorial service. Wow, I have never experienced anything like it. It was incredible to see the body of Christ come together to bless this family and help them pull off what was truly the most extraordinary memorial service most of us will ever witness. Our large family friends do everything big!

 

The service was held at the Yakima Valley Sundome, the only venue in the area large enough to accommodate the gathering. For two days, people voluntarily worked tirelessly to set up, serve, and clean up after an unforgettable event. It began with a two-hour service where her children rose up and called her blessed, followed by a beautiful lunch, rich fellowship, and thoughtful activities for the children—gaga ball, coloring pages, ride-on bikes, big wheels, pickleball, arts and crafts, and even a dedicated space for nursing moms.

 

Later, they served pizza and ice cream, and the evening closed with hymn singing and prayer. Nine hours of celebrating Nicole’s life!

 

Nicole was a dear friend, though I didn’t see her often. She and her family lived in the middle of nowhere. We connected at family camp and prayer nights, attended Above Rubies retreats together, and shared sweet fellowship whenever our families met up.

 

She poured her life into her family of 10 children, supporting her husband and his business, homeschooling her children, and caring for her aging parents. Her hospitality was unmatched. She didn’t have a lot of time to reach out to friends, yet do you know how many people attended her memorial service?

 

One thousand! Yes, one thousand people gathered, not to honor a celebrity, a millionaire, or a high-powered executive—but a homeschool mom. A woman who gave one hundred percent of her time to her family. The world might tell us that this kind of life is small, insular, and insignificant, but that is simply not true.

 

Many people close to Nicole gave her a hard time for trusting God with her family size and homeschooling, but the fruit of her faith is truly inspiring. God’s design is perfect, and in Nicole’s life, we see proof of that—a woman who quietly devoted herself to her family made a lasting impact on so many.

 

One thousand people spent nine hours celebrating her life—a powerful testimony to the influence of a mother who walked in obedience to God’s calling.

 

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all’” (Proverbs 31:25-29).

 

Ladies, keep on keeping on. We are changing the world, one home school lesson at a time.

 

MOLLY LILJA

 

Read also Hebrews 12:1-3.

A couple of week’s ago I posted the weekly devotional called, WHERE HAVE OUR BIBLES GONE? Loads of ladies loved it. One mother, Emma Kangas (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) wrote with a very good point which I must add and send to you:

 

“There is one point I’d like to add. When you’re a mama with children at home, and you read your Bible on your smart phone, the children don’t see you spending time in God’s Word. As far as they can tell all phone activity is the same. You may be on social media, watching videos, texting, endlessly scrolling—they do not know. And they won’t internalize the message that God’s word is so important that Mama spends lengthy times in the Word daily. They just see how attractive and addictive a phone is.”

 

I think that’s a good point too, don’t you?

 

In case you missed this devotion, you can go to:

 

Where Have Our Bibles Gone? | Above Rubies Women's Email Devotional

 

~ Nancy