Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Life is like a boomerang. What we say and do will always come back to us. We can't get away with anything. What we sow into our family life we will reap, not only in this life, but in generations to come. Our attitude and the words we speak (or don't speak if it is the "silent treatment") into our husband and children's lives will reap a harvest of blessing or ultimate destruction.

We know God's Word in Galatians 6:7 which says, "Be not deceived: God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." We don't always reap immediately. Sometimes it takes years (maybe ten, twenty, or even thirty years) before the boomerang comes back, but it always does. The words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow stand true, "Though the mills of God grind slowly; Yet they grind exceeding small; Though with patience he stands waiting, With exactness grinds he all".

We see an example of this in 2 Samuel 21 where God sent three years of famine in the time of King David. David enquired of the Lord and God told him it was because Saul slew the Gibeonites with whom Joshua had made a covenant not to destroy them. Joshua had been dead for many years. Saul was now dead and I guess no one remembered the covenant Joshua had made so many years ago. But, God remembered. and retribution had to be made.

I have watched wives sow hate and discontentment and yet they wonder why their marriage eventually crumbles. We cannot reap a harvest of love if we don't sow love and kindness.

Love from Nancy Campbell

The great preacher and author, Dwight L. Moody confessed, "If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God!" He understood the power of investing in a child's life. Dear mother, you are in this very ministry! Every day and all day! What a privilege. There is nothing more powerful that you could be doing. The investment you pour into your children will not only bless your own family, but the world. But, even more--future generations, and eternity!

Don't let the enemy fill you with his lies that motherhood is insignificant. You are part of the greatest work in God's kingdom. When the people brought children to Jesus, the disciples shooed them off, thinking Jesus would not have time for the children. This made Jesus angry and He let them know. He said, "Do not push these children away. Do not ever get between them and Me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom" (Mark 10:1315 Msg). Mother, you are at the very epicenter of life in God's kingdom!

Love from Nancy Campbell

Hebrews 1:1 tells us how God spoke in times past by the prophets, but now speaks to us through His own beloved Son. The word "prophet" is not only a foretelling as many people think of a prophet, but it is an OUT-SPEAKING! Trench explains it, "The "prophetes" is the OUTspeaker; he who speaks out the counsel of God with the clearness, energy, and authority which spring from the consciousness of speaking in God's name and having received a direct message from Him to deliver."

Christ, who lives in us is "prophet, priest, and king." I believe that every father should be a prophet to his family, seeking God for His ways and speaking God's counsel to His family. But, we as mothers also have a daily responsibility to speak the counsel of God to our children. Motherhood is even more than nurturing, feeding, and caring for our children. It is our God-given duty to feed their souls and spirits as well as their bodies. Even more so.

Let's be mothers who earnestly seek God and His Word. And then with energy and authority we will daily speak God's counsel to our children. WHAT A HIGH AND LOFTY CALLING! Don't be content to only half-mother your children. You may be a wonderful nurturer of their physical bodies, but how much are you pouring into the feeding and strengthening of their souls and spirits?

Love from Nancy Campbell

Our God is a dwelling God. He loves to dwell with His people. He dwelt with His people in the wilderness in the most sacred place, the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle (Exodus 29:45). Hebrews 9:1 (J. B. Phillips) says, "Now the first agreement had certain rules for the service of God, and it had a sanctuary, A HOLY PLACE IN THIS WORLD FOR THE ETERNAL GOD." Isn't that amazing? To think that the eternal God would presence Himself in this earthly world.

When Jesus came and died upon the cross for our sins, the thick curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place was torn from top to the bottom. Now Christ wants to dwell in our earthly bodies! This is even more awesome. Colossians 1:27 reminds us, "Christ in you, the hope of glory." 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, "Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you." The word "temple" in this Scripture is the Greek word "naos" which is the word for the Holy of Holies! Yes, you and I, are now the holy dwelling place for the eternal God on earth!

Not only does He want to live in our heart, but He wants to dwell in our home. God wants our home to be a holy place for Him to dwell. But, He can only dwell in holy places that are cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus.

Are your heart and home a dwelling place on earth for the Holy God?

Love from Nancy Campbell

It is winter time and everything looks stark and bare. But, as I walked outside this morning I noticed a beautiful golden glow on the tops of the bare trees. It looked delightful. I couldn't see where it was coming from but as I looked harder I noticed a little glimpse of the rising sun through the trees. I was amazed that such a little appearing of the sun could bring such beauty.

We, who have the light of the Christ within us, should also be like the sun, bringing light, warmth, and glow wherever we go. Of course, first to those in our own home. If God's light doesn't shine from us to our husband and children, we deceive ourselves to think we can shine anywhere else.

How great is our light? Even a little light helps, but a great light will bless everyone around us even more. Matthew 4:15-16 tells us that when Jesus came to the land of Zebulon and Naphtali that "the people which sat in darkness saw GREAT LIGHT." Jesus was a great light and He lives in us! How much of His light are we shining to those around us?

Judges 5:31 says, "Let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might." That means when the sun is at its brightest and full strength.

Do our family get only a tiny glimpse of the light of Jesus in us? Or, do they live in the fullness of the glowing warmth of His light that shines from us? Is our light exposing any darkness that comes into our home?

Love from Nancy Campbell

Are you as guilty as me? Whenever I would address one of my children, I would usually have to say all the names before I got to the right one!

Nancy Campbell

To enjoy looking at wonderful pictures of clothes drying on the line, go to:
http://www.pinterest.com/aboverubiesmag/i-love-clotheslines/

THE CLOTHESLINE

A clothesline was a news forecast
To neighbors passing by,
There were no secrets you could keep
When clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link
For neighbors always knew
If company had stopped on by
To spend a night or two.

For then you'd see the "fancy sheets"
And towels upon the line;
You'd see the "company table cloths"
With intricate designs.

The line announced a baby's birth
From folks who lived inside -
As brand new infant clothes were hung,
So carefully with pride!

The ages of the children could
So readily be known,
By watching how the sizes changed,
You'd know how much they'd grown!

It also told when illness struck,
As extra sheets were hung;
Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,
Haphazardly were strung.

It also said, "Gone on vacation now"
When lines hung limp and bare.
It told, "We're back!" when full lines sagged
With not an inch to spare!

New folks in town were scorned upon
If wash was dingy and gray,
As neighbors carefully raised their brows,
And looked the other way.

But clotheslines now are of the past,
For dryers make work much less.
Now what goes on inside a home
Is anybody's guess!

I really miss that way of life.
It was a friendly sign
When neighbors knew each other best
By what hung on the line.

~ Marilyn K. Walker

I have always loved clotheslines. I love to hang my clothes out in the fresh air where they can be disinfected, deodorized, and sanitized in the sun. I love to see them blowing in the wind. I love to go to sleep on sheets that have dried in the sun. And forgive me, but I have an aversion to clothes dryers, unless it is raining and I have to use them.

Back in New Zealand and Australia where I raised our children we had revolving clotheslines. I remember when I used to hang the twins (Evangeline and Stephen) in hanging swings, one each end of the clothesline. They would twirl around as I turned the revolving clothesline to hang up the clothes, and they loved it.

It was always my favorite chore of the day as I could get out in the fresh air, and get exercise--bending down to pick up the clothing and reaching up to peg it on the line is good stretching. And I got plenty of exercise. I remember when I had three children in 17 months, and then four under four! And in those days we didn't have disposable diapers. I washed the "nappies" as we called them in New Zealand and daily hung them on the line. The sun would bleach out the stains from them. It was wonderful.

I know many are not even allowed to have clotheslines in their subdivision. The authorities say that they make the subdivision look untidy. How sad! Because we live out in the country, we are free to have a clothesline. But, I still haven't had one since we came out to the land 14 years ago! But, not to be outdone, I hang my clothes on our deck. Only when it is pouring with rain do I condescendingly use the dryer.

However, this Christmas, Serene and Sam and Pearl and Charlie took pity on my and bought me a revolving clothesline. I was blessed out of my socks. And you'd never believe it. Without knowing what they were doing, my sister, Kate bought me a peg bag filled with old fashioned wooden pegs. How amazing!

Love from Nancy Campbell

I'm just getting back to you because our Internet has been down since yesterday morning. After watching the interview it's hard to believe that Serene and Pearl were up all night with no sleep! Serene took little Haven with her and her older daughter, Chalice to help watch her. However, little Haven got croup in the night and they had to get her outside into the cold air to get her breathing. They were walking the streets of New York with little Haven, with scary people around, throughout the night and went to the interview with having no sleep! They came home so tired, and have yet many funny and hair-raising stories to tell us. Wherever Serene goes, there are hilarious stories to tell!

And while they were in New York their sons were doing the manly thing at home--out hunting for deer. Bowen, Pearl's 15 year old son shot a deer, and Arden, Serene's 16 year old son also shot a deer, his fourth for the season! In fact last night, I cooked a beautiful lentil soup with the venison from Arden's deer he shot on Saturday evening! And I should mention, that Arrow, Evangeline's son, also shot a deer on the weekend, too. Praise the Lord for their success on the last day of deer hunting. We are filling our freezers!

Love from Nancy

“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Did you know that Pearson Publishers, the largest textbook publishing company for our children's textbooks, is seeking to undermine our Judeo-Christian values and subtly bring in anti-Christian, anti-American, anti-Semitic, and anti-Israel information?

One of these books is "The Cultural Landscape and Human Geography" which is being used in our local highs schools. Pearson Publishers has hired a consultant, Shabbir Mansuri, who is promoting Islamic and anti-Semitic propaganda to our children. Mansuri has publicly stated that he is “waging a bloodless revolution in America’s schools.”

To sign a petition to remove Pearson Publisher's and other similar textbooks from being used in our state schools, please go to: www.pjtn.org (Proclaiming Justice to the Nations), click on Involved and then Petitions.

Let's take a stand. Nancy

During our Family Devotions each day we love to pray for the persecuted church and the needy cities of the world. To give us information, we use the book, Praying Through the 100 Gateway Cities of the 10/40 Window.

Currently we are praying for the cities of Mecca and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. In this book it mentions that Islam educational institutions require that 70 percent of all their education must be devoted to Islam studies. I find this challenging. They are passionate about their religion! Yet, in our so-called Christian nation we are not even allowed to use the Bible in our schools! What are we thinking about?

And what about Christian homeschoolers? Are we as passionate for our faith? Are we as concerned that our children grow up richly filled with God's truth? Do we spend 70 percent of our time educating our children in God's Word and His ways? Are we looking to the future?

May God save us from filling our children with so much that is good, but not the NECESSARY AND THE BEST! May we forget fitting into the status quo and doing what everyone else is doing, and embark on raising God-filled Word-filled, and truth-filled young men and women.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Hebrews 13:5 tells us that we are to HONOR marriage. It is God who designed marriage and therefore we must not treat it lightly or take it for granted. And we dare not defile the sacred marriage bed.

The word, honor, means "to esteem, to regard as valuable, beloved, and precious." It is the same word that is used when talking about the "precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:19) and the "precious promises" (1 Peter 1:4).

And yet how easy it is for take it for granted or to even talk degradingly about our marriage. May God give us a new vision to see the honor God has put upon it and to do everything in our power to make our marriage a testimony of honor.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Many husbands feel the weight of providing for another mouth to feed and therefore don't want to have any more children. And many mothers feel like this, too.

But, dear mother, God has promised that He will never fail us. David confessed, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread" (Psalm 37:25).

When God gives a baby, He always provides. HE DOESN'T PROVIDE BEFORE THE BABY COMES, BUT WHEN THE BABY COMES. Oh yes, I know many will have many "ifs and buts" but before you express them, check out this article, "Is God Able to Provide for Another baby?"
http://tinyurl.com/IsGodAbleToProvide

Here are some more promises for you to read as you think about embracing another baby. Read them, meditate on them, confess them out loud, and BELIEVE THEM! You can rely upon them more than any word of man!

Psalm 37:28 says, "For the Lord loves justice; HE WILL NOT FORSAKE HIS SAINTS. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off." The New Living Translation says, "For the Lord loves justice, and HE WILL NEVER ABANDON THE GODLY. He will keep them safe forever."

Hebrews 13:5-6 says, "BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE: for he hath said, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man shall do unto me." The New Living Translation says, "Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I WILL NEVER FAIL YOU I WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU.'"

Have you got the message? God will NEVER abandon you! Read these Scriptures, too: Deuteronomy 4:31; 31:6, 8; 1 Kings 6:13; Psalm 9:10; 37:25, 28; 94:14; 1 Chronicles 28:20; 1 Timothy 6:6-8 and Isaiah 41:17.

And have you read the following link yet? It is filled with the revelation of God's promises. http://tinyurl.com/IsGodAbleToProvide

Love from Nancy

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above;
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee

~ Frances Ridley Havergal

Here are some more promises for you to read as you think about embracing another baby. Read them, meditate on them, confess them out loud, and BELIEVE THEM! You can rely upon them more than any word of man!

Psalm 37:28 says, "For the Lord loves justice; HE WILL NOT FORSAKE HIS SAINTS. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off." The New Living Translation says, "For the Lord loves justice, and HE WILL NEVER ABANDON THE GODLY. He will keep them safe forever."

Hebrews 13:5-6 says, "BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE: for he hath said, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man shall do unto me." The New Living Translation says, "Don't love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, 'I WILL NEVER FAIL YOU I WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU.'"

Have you got the message? God will NEVER abandon you! Read these Scriptures, too: Deuteronomy 4:31; 31:6, 8; 1 Kings 6:13; Psalm 9:10; 37:25, 28; 94:14; 1 Chronicles 28:20; 1 Timothy 6:6-8 and Isaiah 41:17.

And have you read the following link yet? It is filled with the revelation of God's promises. http://tinyurl.com/IsGodAbleToProvide

Love from Nancy

A precious, adorable gift, fresh from the heart of God. Not only a blessing to you, but to the world. And even more, an eternal soul who will live forever!

To be pregnant and to nurture babies and children is never wasted. It is a powerful career that affects the nation, the generations to come, and ETERNITY.

Nancy

I'd love to also share the challenging words of the hymn by Charles D. Meigs:

OTHERS, LORD, YES OTHERS

Lord, help me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray
My prayer shall be for others.

OTHERS, LORD, YES OTHERS,
LET THIS MY MOTTO BE,
HELP ME TO LIVE FOR OTHERS
THAT I MAY LIVE LIKE THEE.

Help me in all the work I do
To ever be sincere and true
And know that all I’d do for You
Must needs be done for others.

Let self be crucified and slain
And buried deep: and all in vain
May efforts be to rise again,
Unless to live for others.

And when my work on earth is done,
And my new work in Heav’n’s begun,
May I forget the crown I’ve won,
While thinking still of others.