DO YOU HAVE IT ALTOGETHER?

“My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise”
(Psalm 57:7).

Some women think they have it all together. Others want to fall on the floor in a heap as they know they could never have it all together, especially if it means keeping a perfect home, perfect children, and perfect situations! Let’s face it. There is not a day that goes perfectly. Every day poses new challenges.

Yet Titus 2:5 tells the older women to teach the young women to “have it all together.” Well, it says “to be discreet” in the King James Version. Would you like to find out what this word truly means? I love the adventure of discovering what the Bible really says, don’t you?

The Greek word for “discreet” is sophron and comes from two root words: sozo which means “to save, deliver, protect, heal, cure, preserve, keep safe, and make whole.” And phren meaning “the mind.” Therefore, it means to have a sound and whole mind.

We can never have it all together in our circumstances because we cannot control our circumstances. If we have babies and little children around us, we can never have a perfect house with laundry and every household duty up to date. However, in the trenches of chaos, babies and children, crying and loud noise, and the weight of more to cope with than we think we can accomplish, we can still have a sound and steady mind. We can experience peace in the storm. This is what it truly means to have it all together.

Let’s look at some other translations:

“To be mistress of themselves” (Moffat). This means that we are in control of ourselves. We have command of our emotions. We are self-disciplined. Not freaking out. Not falling to pieces. No matter what happens around us, our hearts and minds are fixed upon the Lord.

What would I do without the wonderful promise in Isaiah 26:3, 4? It says: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” I believe this is the underlying secret of having it all together—to keep our minds stayed upon the Lord, no matter what the situation.

“Orderly behavior” (Knox). Our example as a wife and mother must not bring discredit to God’s word but be a good advertisement for the Christian faith (Titus 2:5).

“To live wisely” (NLT). Not foolishly. Not gadding about. Not hankering after the material things of this world and worldly entertainment. Not possessed by social media. Instead, we speak wisely, act wisely, and walk in obedience to God’s plan for wives and mothers rather than the ways and trends of this current society.

“To be self-controlled” Most translations use this phrase (I counted 10 of them). How can you be self-controlled? Do you stoically repress your emotions? No. We surrender to the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, for He is self-control. He is everything we need to have it all together. His life in us is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22, 23). That’s everything you need. Instead of yielding to the flesh, yield to the Holy Spirit.

“To be sensible” (AMP, CEB, CEV, NASB, and RSV). Being sensible keeps our feet on the ground and acting in a way that brings glory to God.

Dear mother, you may feel overwhelmed, and the house may look chaotic, but you can still “have it all together” as you look to the Lord and allow His peace to fill your heart and mind despite everything that happens around you.

PRAYER:

“Thank You, dear Father, that You are my Peace. You are my Rock and my Fortress. You are the One who keeps me sane during the chaos. I thank You that I can trust You, no matter what circumstances I face. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

My eyes are upon the Lord instead of my troubles around me.

WHICH KINGDOM?

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you”
(Matthew 6:33).

What is the kingdom of God? It is the rule and reign of Christ in individual hearts, families, the church, and the nation. Does your home and family belong to the kingdom of God? You will know when you are at odds with the kingdom of Satan. God’s kingdom is opposite to Satan’s kingdom. Neither of the two do meet. If we fit in nicely with the world, we better check if we are really part of God’s kingdom. We can only belong to one or the other and belonging to God’s kingdom will not make us a favorite with the world.

GOD’S KINGDOM IS A KINGDOM OF TRUTH

Satan’s kingdom is one of lies and deception; God’s kingdom is a kingdom of truth. When we are part of God’s kingdom we passionately seek after truth. We discern what are lies and deception and depart from them.

GOD’S KINGDOM IS A KINGDOM OF LIFE

Satan’s kingdom is a kingdom of death; God’s kingdom is a kingdom of life. When we belong to God’s kingdom, we embrace life. We open our hearts to the children He wants to give us. We are life-givers and not life-stoppers. Life-stoppers are antithesis to God’s kingdom.

Matthew 19:14 (GW): “Jesus said, ‘Don’t stop children from coming to me! Children like these are part of God’s kingdom.” Children are at the center of the kingdom of God. If we don’t want children, we are opposite to the kingdom of God. Also read Mark 10:15, 16.

GOD’S KINGDOM IS A KINGDOM OF HOLINESS

God has laws and commandments for His kingdom, and we can only enter His kingdom on His terms (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). The devil’s kingdom loves to compromise God’s ways and preaches we must tolerate evil and never judge. The devil deceives us from God’s kingdom by convincing us that we can have eternal life without repenting from our sin.

The devil’s kingdom does not stand for judging sin. Read Ephesians 5:5; 1Peter 1:15-17; Hebrews 12:14; Revelation 21:8; and 22:15. Did you know that there is one Scripture that all the homosexuals and sex-traffickers and adulterers love? It’s “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” It’s amazing how they all know and love that Scripture even though they don’t believe the Bible?

GOD’S KINGDOM IS AN UNSHAKEABLE KINGDOM

Satan’s kingdom has no surety, but God’s kingdom is an unshakeable kingdom (Hebrews 12:28). When things in our lives begin to shake and fall apart around us, we continue rejoicing because we belong to an unshakeable kingdom that will never pass away. We will not be moved by our circumstances.

GOD’S KINGDOM IS A KINGDOM OF RIGHTEOUESNESS, PEACE, AND JOY IN THE HOLY GHOST

Satan’s kingdom is riddled with anxiety, worries, fears, depression, and destruction. God’s kingdom is filled with “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17).

GOD’S KINGDOM IS A ROYAL KINGDOM

Satan’s kingdom is a usurping kingdom. God’s kingdom is a glorious, majestic and royal kingdom (Psalm 145:11, 12). He is King of kings and Lord of lords and to Him every knee will bow (Philippians 2:9-11).

Because we belong to a royal kingdom, we are no longer normal citizens. Because Christ dwells in us we bear the image of the heavenly. We walk in majesty and dignity. We die to our flesh and live the life of Christ which abides in us. God has “delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:13).

Therefore, we will like royalty. We will live in a way that is conducive to those who belong to a royal kingdom. We have been made “kings and priests unto God” (Revelation 1:6).

GOD’S KINGDOM IS A KINGDOM OF FAITH

People seek after riches in Satan’s kingdom, but God’s kingdom is a kingdom of faith (Mark 10:23, 24).

GOD’S KINGDOM IS AN EVERLASTING KINGDOM

Psalm 145:13: “Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.”

Psalm 146;10: “The LORD shall reign forever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.”

The kingdoms of this world will all pass away but we belong to an everlasting kingdom! Hallelujah! Doesn’t this make you shout for joy?

May we each allow God to rule and reign in our lives and in every room of our homes.

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, thank You that You have redeemed me by Your precious blood and accepted me into Your eternal kingdom. I thank You that I live in Your kingdom now. Please anoint me to live by Your kingdom principles and live the victorious kingdom lifestyle that You have planned for me. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

No matter what happens in my home, no matter what happens all around me, not matter what happens in the nation, I belong to an unshakeable kingdom. I cannot be moved.

Love from Nancy Campbell

GOD SEES FUTURE GENERATIONS

“And as I may so say, Levi . . . paid tithes in Abraham,
For he was yet in the loins of his father,
when Melchisedec met him.”
(Hebrews 7:9, 10).

Isn’t it amazing how we think so differently from the way God thinks? Especially about children coming into the world.

Let me give you a couple of examples from Scripture. The Bible tells us in Genesis 14 of how four kings and their armies came against Sodom and Gomorrah and defeated them. Along with confiscating all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, they also took Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family.

Abraham rose up and went out with his home-trained army of 318 men, defeated them, and rescued Lot and his family. On his way home he met Melchisedec, King of Salem and priest of the Most High God, and Abraham gave him tithes of all he had gained.

Then we go over to the New Testament and Hebrews 7:9, 10 tells us that not only Abraham paid tithes to Melchisedec, but his great-grandson! How could that be? He wasn’t even born!

Let’s read it: “And as I may so say, Levi . . . paid tithes in Abraham, For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.” The Passion translation says: “Levi, the ancestor of every Jewish priest who received tithes, actually paid tithes to Melchizedek through Abraham. For although Levi was yet unborn, the seed from which Levi came was present in Abraham.”

God saw Levi, his great-grandson, in his loins, even when he was not a twinkle in Abraham’s eye.

We also read in 2 Samuel 7:12, 13 how God told David that a son who was not yet even thought of by David would come forth from his loins to be the next king.

“And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall PROCEED OUT OF THY BOWELS, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of this kingdom forever.”

The Bible says a seed would come forth from David. God planned for Solomon to be born and build the temple before he was even thought of by David. The word “seed” is “zera” in Hebrew and is a word that is used for sperm as well as for people. In Genesis 46:6, 7 it tells us how Jacob came down from Egypt “and all his seed with him: His sons, and his sons’ sons with him, his daughters, and his son’s daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.” These were not little seeds floating down to Egypt but live human beings—sons and daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. All different ages and stages. But they were all called “zera.”

We read about Solomon coming forth in 1 Kings 8:19 too: “Thy son that shall come forth OUT OF THY LOINS, he shall build the house unto my name.” Read also 1 Kings 5:5; 1 Chronicles 17:11, 12; 28:5, 6; Psalm 132:11.

We know that Solomon came forth out of the womb of Bathsheba, but God particularly states that he came forth out of David’s loins. God sees the sperm as a future human being.

But there’s more. God states that even Jesus Christ came forth from the loins of David. Acts 2:30 says: “Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the FRUIT OF HIS LOINS, according to the flesh, he should raise up Christ to sit on his throne.”

God sees future generations before they are born! He has children planned to come into the world. We had better not stop God’s plans. His plans are far greater than our plans.

Nancy Campbell

www.aboverubvies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, please save me from thinking humanistically. Help me to understand and think like You think. Because You are Omniscient, You know all things. You know every child whom You have planned to come into the world before they are born. Even before the foundation of the world. Thank Youi, Father.”

AFFIRMATION:

I do not want to stop children coming into this world whom God has destined for His purposes.

Did you know, I am now doing a podcast for you each week called FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS w/ Nancy Campbell? I know you will be blessed and encouraged. Go to www.aboverubies.org and you’ll see the icon. Or go to http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com

Picture courtesty of MyBible.com

HOW SHOULD WE DRESS?

“The women are to dress themselves in modest clothing,
with decency and good sense”
(2 Timothy 2:9 HCSB).

I believe the Bible is our guideline for every aspect of life. I have always found the answer to every question in God’s Word, no matter how practical.

1 Timothy 2:9 guides us about what we should wear. This Scripture gives us three guidelines:

1. WE ARE TO ADORN OURSELVES MODESTLY.

This word means to act in an orderly manner and behave well. Did you know that this word is only used one other time in the Bible? This time it refers to men and is translated “good behavior.” A woman who dresses modestly understands what is right and doesn’t go beyond her conscience.

2.  WE ARE TO ADORN OURSELVES WITH REVERENCE.

The word in the King James version is “shamefacedness.” No one uses this word today, so we better find out what it really means. The Greek word is “aidos” and means “downcast eyes, bashfulness, modesty, reverence.” Help! Does anyone have this attitude today?

One commentary says the word should be translated as “shamefastness.” In other words, we stand fast against bringing any shame or dishonor to our God, to our husband, to our womanly nature, or to the people of God. Once again, this word is used only one other time in the Bible where it relates to both men and women. It is found in Hebrews 5:9 where it tells us to “serve God acceptably with reverence (aidos) and godly fear.” This is meant to be the behavior of both men and women.

The context of 1 Timothy 2:9 is in the gathering together of the saints, specifically to pray. We wear different clothing for different places. This is not talking about the beach or the bedroom. It is talking about meeting with the people of God. We don’t wear in church, or when we meet with believers, or when we pray with others the clothing we would wear in the bedroom. Some women don’t seem to understand this context and we seem women wearing scanty clothing even in church meetings!

The Passion translations says: “that the women would also pray with clean hearts, dressed appropriately and adorned modestly and sensibly.”

Robert Spinney, professor at Patrick Henry College in Virginia says that many men ask the question: “Why can’t we have at least one haven from tight clothing, cleavage, bare shoulders, and short skirts? Why can’t people be sure to dress modestly when they attend church meetings? I expect to be tempted by scandalous clothing when I go to a college campus, but God’s people shouldn’t have to face that kind of temptation at church services. Can’t Christians be more considerate of others?”

3. WE ARE TO ADORN OURSELVES WITH SELF CONTROL

The King James Version uses another old word, sobriety. It is the Greek word “sophrosune” and means:

1. Soundness of mind, self-control, soberness.
2. Habitual self-government with its constant reign on all the passions and desires.
3. The well-balanced state of mind arising from habitual self-restraint.
4. Safe-and-sound mindedness.
5. Sensibleness and sound judgment.

A sound godly mind knows that cleavage and showing too much of the body is not appropriate clothing for public worship, or even outside the home.

Let’s walk in the fear of God, serving Him and the body of Christ with reverence. This is how we serve God ACCEPTABLY.

Blessings from  Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, it is my desire to please You and bring glory to You wherever I go. Please help me to dress in a way that doesn’t offend others or bring shame to Your holy name. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

My vision for clothing myself is to bring glory to God.

Did you know, I am now doing a podcast for you each week called FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS w/ Nancy Campbell? I know you will be blessed and encouraged. Go to www.aboverubies.org and you’ll see the icon. Or go to http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com