GOD LOVES SHEEP—THAT MEANS YOU!

“And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were sore afraid. And the angel of the Lord said unto them, Fear not for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you are born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 8-11).

Today’s thoughts are not from me, but from my sister, Kate. Kate and I are both familiar with sheep. Our father, Ivan Bowen who passed away a couple of years ago, designed the way shearing is done across the world and he was the fastest shearer in the world in his prime. Kate also shepherded a flock of sheep when she lived up in the Caribou of Canada. She has a special love for sheep. I know you will be blessed by her thoughts.

God Chooses the Poor and Despised!

The Palestinian shepherds in Bible days were despised by society. They were not allowed to give testimony in a court of law as they were considered unreliable. Doesn’t it astonish you that God chose the despised members of society, those with unreliable testimony, to be witnesses of the most important message of all time? He entrusted them with a message that was foretold by prophets hundreds of years before and would change the course of history. If it was me, I would make sure this message was given to the most influential, reliable men of the nation to ensure it was accurately broadcast world-wide. Yet, how God is this! His ways are greater than our ways (Isaiah 55:8).

I believe these ancient shepherds were good shepherds. I was a shepherdess in Northern British Columbia, Canada for a time, and as I worked with the flock, I experienced something of the heart of the shepherd. The sheep pulled at my heartstrings. I believe these shepherds would have had tender hearts.

They would also have been physically tough as they braved the elements. They were watchmen, always on the lookout for predators, or the enemy that would attack the flock. Remember how David contended with the lion and the bear? In fact, a shepherd never rests until the entire flock is safe in the fold, especially at night. “There were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold, but one was out on the hills away, far from the gates of the fold…” This old hymn speaks of the shepherd going out to look for the one astray. I had to do this many times in my shepherding days.

These ancient shepherds were courageous, too, willing to lay down their lives for the sheep. And, ultimately, they were a living illustration of the Great Shepherd of the Sheep. God saw beyond what society perceived these shepherds to be, and saw their tender, courageous hearts.

God Chooses the Sheep!

Not only were the shepherds there when the angels appeared, but who else? The sheep! The shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night. As we fast forward two thousand years later, we peer back into this divine hallowed moment in history and see ourselves represented through the sheep. Again, how God is this! He does not make mistakes. What does God liken us to in the Bible? Sheep! It is one of the recurring themes throughout Scripture--the shepherd and his sheep. On looking through one of my daughter’s Bible story books, this same passage was illustrated with bright lights beaming on the shepherds. But, I was fascinated to see that the illustrator had perceptively drawn the cute little sheep with their heads looking up at this glorious light also!

All we like sheep! They go astray, wandering off unaware of the dangers from under the shepherd’s care. They get dirty. They’re stubborn, often stupid--although not dumb as is the popular belief. They’re vulnerable and need constant attention. In fact, the flock cannot survive without the shepherd. Sound familiar! In spite of this, the sheep are entirely loveable.

Today, as 21st century sheep of His flock, we are witnesses to and of this amazing proclamation that the savior of the world is born and has come. In the business of this season, let us remind ourselves that we carry this great proclamation wherever we go–in our homes, into the city streets, into the stores, on the road, as we go out and come in. Whatever we are doing, this proclamation is with us. And remember, it is backed by a multitudinous heavenly choir! It is the message of hope in these troubled times.

Truly He is the king, worthy of proclamation!

KATE MARCHINIAK, NANCY’S SISTER.
www.aboverubies.org

The Grandest Theme!

“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).

What is the central theme of the Bible? It is the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, upon the cross. The Old Testament Scriptures point to it from Genesis 3:15 onward. The daily sacrifices, with the shedding of blood, from Exodus onward, reveal God’s ultimate intention. It is the highest theme of the New Testament. Shouldn’t it then be the most preeminent premise in my life? And if so, shouldn’t it be the grandest theme of our home?

The old hymn says, “'Tis the grandest theme thro' the ages rung; ‘Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue; ’Tis the grandest theme that the world e’er sung.” This challenges me to the core. Is my family truly aware that this theme is the “glory” of our home? Do people who come into my home pick this up? What about your home?

How can we bring the cross of Christ to the fore in our home each day? I am thinking of a few practical ways:

 1. Thank Him Morning and Evening

God always gives practical ways to reveal His truth. In Old Testament days the children of Israel sacrificed a “lamb without blemish” every morning and every evening (Exodus 29:38-39). We know that this pointed to the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world. God made sure that it was not a haphazard habit, but a daily ritual. He wanted to get it into the very core of their beings.

I think this is a good principle for us too. We show our children that the cross is our grandest theme when we come before the Lord as a family every morning and evening, and during our prayer times, thank the Lord for His salvation and His blood that was shed for our sins.

 2. Sing Hymns and Songs about the Blood

We have many wonderful worship songs that we sing at church today. However, we rarely sing songs about the blood of Jesus. Why should this be when it is the preeminent focus of God’s Word?

Perhaps you could resurrect some of the old hymns that speak about the blood and teach them to your children. Sing a hymn about the cross of Jesus or the blood of Christ at your Family Devotions morning and evening. If it is the grandest theme in our family, won’t we want to sing about it?

We only have salvation through Jesus’ blood, we only have deliverance through His blood and we only have healing through His blood. Let your children grow up singing hymns like, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

 3. Take Communion

When I grew up, we took communion faithfully every week at church. Today, many churches only take communion once a month, or even less. I don’t think we can do it too much.

Every time we partake of the bread and the wine (or the grape juice) we remember the death of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-30). You don’t have to wait to do this at church. You can do it in your home. You can do it as many times as you want.

We love to remember the cross of Christ when we take the bread and wine at our weekly Shabbat meal.

 4. Relate the Cross to your Life

Jesus’ death upon the cross was not only a fact in history. It relates to every moment and every situation of our lives.Jesus didn’t pour out His life and blood to leave us in the bondage of our sin; He died to deliver us from the bondage to self and this evil world (2 Corinthians 5:15 and Galatians 1:4).

The cross touches every facet of our lives. In every situation we are either “crucified with Christ” and die to our stubbornness, selfishness and “own way” or we refuse the power of the cross in our lives (Galatians 2:20). As we learn to acknowledge that we are “crucified with Christ” and instead allow His life to live through us, we will walk in victory.

We will also show to our children that the power of the cross still works in the 21^st century. We will not only show by example, but teach our children how to apply the cross to their lives in every selfish and sinful situation they face. This is the most powerful teaching you can give to your children.

 5. Memorize Salvation Scriptures 

Teach your children basic Scriptures about the cross of Jesus Christ and His blood.

Make the cross be the grandest theme in your home.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Jesus, I thank you for being the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. I thank you that you shed your precious, pure blood for my sin. I thank you that your sacrificial death works powerfully in me every day because I was crucified when you were crucified and now I live in resurrection life as you do. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

“Oh, precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

SOME SCRIPTURES ABOUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:7; 11-28; 10:4-10; 19-20; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11.

SOME HYMNS ABOUT THE CROSS AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS (you can check out the words by doing a Google search).

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus
There’s Power in the Blood
There is a Fountain Filled with Blood
Are you washed in the Blood?
Wounded for me
I’m not ashamed to own my Lord
My Hope is built on Nothing Less
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
King of my life, I Crown Thee Now
“Man of Sorrows,” what a Name
Alas! And did my Saviour Bleed?
Jesus, Keep me Near the Cross
Calvary Covers it All

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I HAVE A PURPOSE! 

“Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work”
(John 4:34).

Jesus’ life-work, which was food to him, was to do and accomplish His Father’s will. Our food should also be to fulfill the Father’s will. His perfect will for our lives as mothers is to embrace the high calling of motherhood which He has given to us and to make it our “food,” not a “little snack”!

Not only was it Jesus’ food and life to do the Father’s will, but it was also His delight. Psalm 40:6-8 says, “Sacrifice and offering thou dist not desire… burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Jesus came as the Lamb of God to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins and to offer His life. He delighted to do His Father’s will, even though, in the flesh, He would rather this “cup” was taken away from him (Matthew 26:39, 42). Do we also delight in our calling?

Do you notice that He did not hide His life purpose in His heart, but affirmed it, confessed it and made it known! It is important to confess our purpose. It will become our life and our food far more as we confess it than if we only hide it in our hearts. Confessing releases action. Confessing keeps you on target. Confessing your purpose keeps you going when everything goes against your purpose!

The following is a statement of purpose for you as a mother. You may like to enlarge the type, print it out and pin it up in your kitchen to encourage you each day. Don’t only read it. Remember to confess it out loud and affirm your purpose, even as Jesus did.

I AM A MOTHER AND I HAVE A PURPOSE!

I am not l anguishing I am not floundering. I am not deceived.

I have a vision. I know who I am and who God created me to be.

I know my purpose. I have direction. I know God’s mandate for my life.

I am walking in the perfect will of God.

I know it’s not easy. I know it’s hard. But I’ve counted the cost. My goal is set. How could my career be easy when I am impacting this nation for God?

Also the generations to come! And eternity!

How can it be easy when I am destroying the plans of the devil?

Such is the power of my God-ordained career,

the highest calling ever given to women—motherhood!

I have embraced my calling. I am not intimidated by antagonists.

I will not be moved. My heart is fixed.

I may be hidden in my home, but look out world! I am sharpening and polishing my arrows. I am getting them ready to shoot forth and destroy the works of the enemy. In the power and anointing of God I am advancing His kingdom!

WHAT IS MY PURPOSE?

P     Passionately mothering!
U     Unflinchingly keeping my eyes on the goal!
R     Regularly and Richly imparting God’s Word to my children!
P     Praying constantly—my heart always looking to the Lord!
O     Ordering and managing my home with diligence!
S     Saturating my husband and children with love and encouragement.
E     Embracing and nurturing the children God is giving to me.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, please help me to not only do and delight in your high calling for my life, but to finish my task. I want to daily affirm it before you, my family and others. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am no longer floundering for I have a purpose!

SPILLING OVER 

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord,
and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
to show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning,
and thy faithfulness every night”
(Psalm 92:1-2). See also Psalm 54:6 and 147:1

I was reading through Paul’s letters recently and noticed again how frequently he encourages us to be thankful—thankful to God, for our circumstances no matter how difficult, and for those around us. In just four chapters, he reminds the Colossian believers six times to be thankful. He’s not satisfied with reminding them to be thankful. He encourages them to be “overflowing with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7).

What does it mean to overflow? The word is perisseuo and means “to super-abound, be in excess, exceed, enough and to spare, over and above.” In other words, you are “over the top” with thankfulness. Your lips are always spilling over in thankfulness to God. You thank Him when things are going good. And yes, you thank Him when things are tough. Because your heart is constantly in an attitude of gratitude to God, this attitude spills out on to all around you—your husband and your children.

You are always grateful to your husband. You don’t take him for granted. You thank him when he helps you with the dishes or putting the children to bed. You thank him for taking out the trash. And even if he doesn’t, and you have to do it yourself, you thank him for being the best husband in the world. You thank him for choosing you to be his wife. You are “over the top” in thanking him. Can you imagine what this will do to your relationship?

And don’t forget to thank your children. It is easy to get into a habit of constantly telling them what to do, but how many times do you thank them when they obey you? Thank them when they help you. Thank them when they are polite. Thank them for the joy they give you. Can you imagine what your constant thankfulness will do to their attitude?

Perhaps you could have a THANKFUL MEAL this evening as you sit around your supper table. Here are a few ideas for you:

THANKFULNESS TO GOD

As you enjoy your meal together, go around the table, giving each one a turn to share two or three things for which they are thankful to God. Make your Prayer Time a thanksgiving time where each one can thank the Lord for the things they shared.

THANKFULNESS FOR ONE ANOTHER

1. Both you and your husband can share a couple of things for which you are thankful for each one of your children. Or…

1. As you go around the table, get each child to share something for which they are thankful for the one who is sitting next to them. Or…

1. Make NAME PLACES for each one at the table. Type their name and comment on the computer, print it off on colored paper and then paste in on a folded cardboard that can stand on its own. Or you can write it on the card. Here are some ideas:

YOUR HUSBAND’S NAME

Thank you for being my loving and faithful husband!

JOSHUA

Thank you for being such an obedient son!

BRENDA

Thank you for doing your chores with all your might!

Let’s look at the other admonitions to be thankful in Colossians…

Colossians 1:12 NLT “Always thanking the Father.” The context of this passage is that God strengthens us with His power to enable us to have patience, longsuffering with joyfulness, and to continually give thanks!

Colossians 3:15 Way, “Be ye all thankfulness.” This is a picture of oozing with thankfulness. Every time you open your mouth, you are either thanking God or someone round you in your home.

Colossians 3:16 NASB, “Singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” This is a picture of constant thankfulness to God, no matter what is happening in your home.

Colossians 3:17 NASB, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” This is a picture of doing everything and saying everything with thankfulness. Can we get into this habit? It won’t just happen. We have to make it happen!

Colossians 4:2 Way, “Let your prayers be characterized by intense earnestness—with thanksgiving.” Even our prayers should be filled with thanksgiving.

May you have an exciting “spilling over” day, continually thanking God and everyone around you—especially your husband and precious children.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Father, I ask that you will help me to not only be thankful, but full of thankfulness. Please help me to have a daily attitude of gratitude toward my husband and my children. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

No more sighs and moaning around here,

I’m putting my thankful heart into gear!

SCRIPTURES TO LOOK UP ABOUT THANKFULNESS:

THANKFULNESS TO THE LORD

Psalm 18:49; 26:7; 30:4, 12; 34:1; 35:18; 50:14; 69:30; 75:1; 79:13; 92:1-2; 97:12; 100:4; 105:1; 106:1, 47; 107:1, 21-22; 116:17; 118:1; 119:29, 62; 122:4; 136: 1-3; 26; 140:13; 147:7; Isaiah 51:3; Jeremiah 30:19; 1 Corinthians 14:16-17; 2 Corinthians 4:15; 9:11-12, 15.

EXAMPLES OF THANKFULNESS TO THE LORD

David                       2 Samuel 22:50; 1 Chronicles 16:8-10, 34-35.
Solomon                  1 Chronicles 29:13; 2 Chronicles 5:13.
Levites                     Ezra 3:11; Nehemiah 11:17; 12: 8, 24, 27, 31, 38, 40, 46.
Daniel                      Daniel 2:29; 3:10.
Jonah                       Jonah 2:9.
Jesus                        Matthew 11:25; 15:32-39; 26:26-27; John 6:9-13.
Anna                        Luke 2:36-38.
The leper                  Luke 17:16.
Paul                          Acts 27:35; 28:15; Romans 7:25; 1 Timothy 1:12; 1 Corinthians 14:18.
The Living Beings       Revelation 4:9.
The 24 Elders            Revelation 11:16-17.
The Angels                Revelation 7:12.

THANKFULNESS FOR OTHERS

Romans 1:8; 16:4; 1 Corinthians 1:4; 2 Corinthians 8:16; Ephesians 1;16; Philippians 1:3; Colossians 1;3; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2:13; 3:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2:13; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 4.

THANKFULNESS IN EVERY DAY LIFE

Leviticus 22:29; 1 Corinthians 15:57; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 5:4, 20; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 1:12; 2:7; 3:15, 17; 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 2:1; 1 Timothy 2:1; Hebrews 13:15.

THE PRINCIPLE OF THANKING THE LORD EVERY MORNING AND EVENING

1 Chronicles 16:4, 39 – 42; 23:30; 25:3; 2 Chronicles 31:2.