WELCOME TO THE LAND OF MORE AND MORE, Part 1

“But the path of the just is as the shining light,
that shineth MORE AND MORE unto the perfect day”
(Proverbs 4:18).

We never get to the end in God's land. It never comes to a stalemate. It is always MORE AND MORE. May God save us from dipping our toes in the shallow waters of God's vastness when there is an ocean of treasures of wisdom and understanding and more than we can ever dream of. Read Isaiah 64:4; 1 Corinthians 2:9 and Colossians 2:2-3.

A friend of mine shared with me a true story of how her brother in New Zealand purchased some land, but it was only enough for a hobby farm. Years later, he decided to sell the land and only then found out that he actually owned another 10 acres that he didn't know he owned. These acres were fertile land that would have provided a full income for him and his family. However, he missed out because he didn't know what he owned!

We can experience the same spiritually. Often we don't live in all that God has for us because we don't even know what we have! We've got to constantly seek God and His Word, so we don't miss out.

Recently I checked out all the things that God wants us to have MORE of in His Word. Let’s discover them, shall we? I’ll list them in alphabetical order.

MORE ABUNDANT LIFE

John 10:10: “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it MORE ABUNDANTLY.”

The words "more abundantly" in this Scripture come from the Greek word perissos which means "exceedingly, above the normal, beyond measure, above and beyond, extraordinary." This is the life that God provides for us. It exceeds the normal life we tend to live each day.

God doesn't want your marriage to be normal or average, but above the normal. He doesn't want you to be a "survival mother" but an "above the normal" mother. Press in for more and more each day. Always be pressing in for more of God and more of His understanding for you as a mother.

MORE ADDING TO THE LORD

Acts 5:14: “And believers were the MORE added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.” You’ll love to read the whole passage from v. 12 – 16.

Oh for the days when “more” people will be added to the Lord. We also notice in Acts 2:46, 47 that when the believers “continued daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart and praising God” that “the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Their daily lifestyle of meeting together, fellowship, and hospitality in one another’s homes caused people to be daily added to the Lord.

MORE DIVINE PROTECTION

2 Kings 6:16: “And (Elisha) answered, Fear not: for they that are with us are MORE than they that are with them.”

When a huge amy compassed about the city against Elisha, his servant was in a state of fear but Elisha encouraged him that there were more fiery angelic warriors watching over them than all the enemies around about them. Verse 17 says: “And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and behold, the mountain was FULL of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”

I am sure you have experienced the miraculous protecting hand of God upon you at certain times even though you may not have seen God’s angels. I know I have experienced angelic protection on a number of occasions although I have never seen an angel. I would certainly love to. I pray that one day my eyes will be opened as Elisha’s servant’s eyes were.

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I thank You that You send Your angels to watch over us and to watch over our children. Thank You for Your watchful protection over me and my family. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am so glad that I belong to a MORE AND MORE kingdom. There is something new to learn every day and a new adventure to experience in my walk with God.

Don’t miss the podcast for wives and mothers each week:

LIFE TO THE FULL w/ Nancy Campbell

https://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.co

DO YOU WANT REVIVAL?

I am desperate for revival? Are you? I guess we should first ask, what is revival? It is turning back to the original, the beginning! It’s reviving the first things.

Before I share a few thoughts on my heart, I must say how encouraged I am to hear of the Asbury College revival and how it is spreading to so many other colleges. How wonderful to see our young people turning back to God in worship and prayer. May it continue to increase to every college in the nation.

In Scripture the “law of the first mention” is very important. When God says something the first time in the Scriptures, we must take note. He lays the foundation for that truth. He may enlarge upon it throughout the Scriptures, but the first mention is the foundation. It must never be discounted.

When we get away from the first mention, we must be revived to come back! Back to God’s plan. Back to the very first commandments He gave us. Back to His heart. Back to His first words. Back to our first love.

We need to forever be coming back to our first love, don’t we? God’s first commandment is to love Him with our whole hearts and whole souls and whole minds and all our strength (Mark 12:30).

With all the distractions in our lives it’s so easy to get away from our first love for Jesus. There’s nothing more important than being in love with Jesus. This is the hub from which everything else in our life flows out. When we are in love with Jesus, we will love our husbands and children and everyone around us.

Jesus spoke to the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:4, 5: “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.”

And this is what is happening in Asbury and the other revivals. They are crying out to God for their fist love to be renewed. What a beautiful thing.

But we must also turn back to the very first statutes God gave is in His Word. Not one word of God is insignificant. Every word is eternal and life changing.

We must come back to the very first words God spoke to the man and woman He created. Genesis 1:28: “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth.” God has never rescinded these words. They stand forever. If we discard them because we think we know better, we disobey God’s powerful and living Word. We certainly need a revival in the church to come back to these words, don’t we?

We must come back to marriage oneness. God’s eternal plan for marriage is that we are to be one. God’s first description of marriage is in Genesis 2:24: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh.”  We are not two people living in the same house but living our separate lives. We are joined in flesh, spirit, and vision to work together to build a strong marriage and family. It’s time to come back!

We must come back to God’s heart for children. Malachi 4:4-6 says: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

This is one of the greatest revivals needed in the church today. Most of the church has no understanding of God’s plan for children. They limit the number of children in their family as much as the secular world. They have as little regard for the blessing as children as the world does.

This Scripture not only speaks about fathers turning their hearts to their one or two children, but turning their hearts back to the same attitude God has about children. To open their hearts to embrace children. To be fathers who are not afraid to trust God for the children He wants to give them.

We need to come back to believe in the God of the Bible. Many believe in a false God. They believe in a god who is only able to provide for one or two children. Any more would be too much for their god. This is not the God of the Bible.

Do we really want revival? True revival will turn us back to God’s original ways. We love to see revivals of worship and the moving of God’s Spirit. This is wonderful but may it lead to coming back to God’s heart and all His commandments.

May you be blessed and encouraged.

NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

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PRAYER

“Dear Father, how I long for revival. I long to see your church turn back to you in prayer and repentance. I long to see your people reveling in worship and prayer than being intoxicated with the entertainments of this world. I long to see your people come back to Your plan—embracing children and building strong marriages. Please come with a mighty move of Your Holy Spirit drawing us back to You. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

Don’t miss the podcast for wives and mothers each week:

LIFE TO THE FULL w/ Nancy Campbell

https://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.co

CREATED FOR CREATIVITY

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness:
and let them have dominion over . . .  all the earth”
(Genesis 1:26).

In the beginning, when God created each part of the world, He said: “Let there be . . .” However, when He came to the sixth day of creation, God said: “LET US MAKE man in our image, after our likeness.” This was something different.

Our God is the Creator and loves to create. Because He created you in His image and after His likeness, you also have within you a desire to create. The essence of “let us make” is not only in God but He has put it in His human creation.

Erick Gray writes: “Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater. If you give her sperm, she will make a baby. If you give her a house, she will make a home. If you give her groceries, she will make a meal. If you give her a smile, she will give you her heart. She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.”

Yes, it is true, cooperating with God you make babies. Some women will say, “Is that all I’m good for? Making babies and keeping house?” Of course you are good for that. You were made physically and innately for motherhood. It is your glory. It is not only glorious, but powerful! Mothers are the greatest influence upon this generation, and therefore the nation, and therefore future generations, and therefore eternity! Your children are eternal souls that will live forever.

But dear wife and mother, your whole life is creating. You were created “to make.” Because you are in the home you make it a beautiful home. You have the freedom to create it to be what you want it to be. You create a beautiful table to gather your family and visitors around. You can make it is interesting and lovely as you want. Your imagination is limitless.

You have complete freedom to develop the gifts and talents God has inherently put within you. Maybe you love to cook so you make wonderful meals, not only your family, but to invite others to join your table. You create your own recipes, and every meal is full of imagination.

You love to bake cakes or homemade bread? You can even sell them. Everything you make you can turn into a home business if you want to. Although we must guard that desire. There are seasons for everything. When we have little children around us, it is best to wait until they are older when you have more helping hands, and you have older children to help with the younger ones and even help with the home business.

You can make crafts and sell them. You can write books and sell them. You can paint pictures and sell them. Do you sew or knit? Oh I am sure you make the most amazing things with these abilities. You can create a wonderful garden.

You can make things no one has ever thought of before. That’s the wonderful thing. You are not bound by what has been done. You are created to dream up new things. Your creativity is boundless.

But here’s another thing to remember. You don’t have to make money out of everything you do! Yes, it can be a blessing (especially as you have older children) to help bring income into the family by selling your creative works. But we should never do everything for money. We do it for the joy of being creative. The joy of fulfilling the gift God has given to us. And the greatest motive of all—the joy of blessing others.

1 Peter 4:10 (HCSB) says: “Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.” Do you notice those words, “to serve others”? Yes, you may do it to make money, but the greatest purpose is to SERVE AND BLESS OTHERS. Firstly, your family members and then those around you. That’s the primary reason for your creativity.

You don’t have to leave your home to be liberated! No. You are in your glory in your home. You are also free to create in whatever gift God has uniquely given to you. The sky is the limit. Please say Hallelujah!

John Garr writes: “There is no doubt that the term ‘image of God’ . . . refers to man’s inner charismatic endowment as a creative being. Man’s likeness to God expresses itself in man’s striving and ability to become a creator.”

Be blessed as you create in your home today.

Nancy Campbell

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“I thank you, dear Father, for creating me uniquely. I am different to every other person in this universe. You have given me gifts that no one else has in order to bless my family and glorify Your name. Help me to use them wisely. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am walking in creativity. I am dreaming up ways to bless my husband and my family. I am thinking of creative things to do to bless my family and the people around me.

Don’t miss the podcast for wives and mothers each week:

LIFE TO THE FULL w/ Nancy Campbell

https://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com

ARE WE DEGENERATING?

“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see,
and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,
and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls”
(Jeremiah 6:15).

What I share with you now may seem archaic, even unbelievable in this society in which we live. However, it reveals how the bar of God's standard continues to lower in every generation.

I grew up as a child never entering a movie theater. It was considered evil. My mother, who has since passed away, never went into a movie theater in her life. Nor did my husband's mother! When I was older and began to go to a "good" movie, I remember saying to my mother, "Mother, you could come and see this movie. It is totally wholesome." But she replied, "Oh no, the Lord might come while I am there!" And she wouldn't want to be found in a movie theater if the Lord came for her!

But of course, when television came in, all standards went out the door. Now, many Christians receive into their homes all the filth and rubbish of the world. They watch adultery and fornication—and worse, without batting an eye! Many Christians go off to every new movie that comes without any discretion! No wonder we don't see the power of God moving in our midst today. We are a lukewarm people—overcome with mediocrity, complacency, ordinariness, passivity, and middle-of-the-road blindness!

What about church? When I was a young girl, we worshipped together as a family in the morning. We would never think of missing church—rain, hail or snow! Never any excuses! We were committed to the faithful g Hebrews 10:24). We came home for lunch and then we children walked back for Sunday School in the afternoon (a couple of miles). Then we attended the Sunday evening service.

Next generation . . .  instead of three times a day, we got down to two services—morning and evening church. Now, we are down to one service in the morning, and that's it! Help, with so many Christian families no longer committed the gathering of God’s people every week, will we even have one service in the next generation?

What about family life? We have so many wonderful godly families in the nation who are raising godly children. And yet sadly, across Christendom, many families have the mindset of the world. They have limited their families to two children. They are so excited when they have their son and daughter, and think, that’s it! The current average number of children per family in USA is 1.9 per family and that’s among Christians as well as the secular world.

I remember talking to an elderly gentleman on one of my flights. He told me that his father came from a family of ten children, and he came from a family of six. “How many children did you have?” I asked. “Two,” he replied. Very typical. Ten, six, two! Every generation has less children. Degeneration. Falling away from God’s original plan and purpose for mankind. We have become victims of a humanistic society. The blind leading the blind into the ditch!

It used to be normal to sit together as a family to eat meals. To communicate with one another. In our busy lifestyles today many families don’t even sit around the table to eat together! If they do, they bring their iPhones to the table! They don’t even communicate face to face. Now that really is degeneration!

Perhaps the statement is true: “Each generation is one generation away from degeneration.” In the midst of lethargy, tolerance of sin, and deception, let's keep seeking after God and His truth with all our hearts.

Dear mother, you are the transmitter of God’s truth and His ways to the next generation. If the next generation forget God’s ways, it is the mothers who are to blame! Wow. That’s a load. But it’s true. God has given us the powerful responsibility to communicate His ways to our children, our grandchildren, and the next generation.

I am always challenged by Isaiah 59:21 (HCSB): “As for Me, this is My covenant with them, says the LORD: ‘My Spirit who is on you, and My words that I have it in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouth of your children, or from the mouth of your children’s children, from now on and forever,’ says the LORD.’”

We must do more than getting into their hearts. We must get it into their mouths so that keeps coming forth out of their mouths to each succeeding generation.

NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER

“Dear Father, save me from dropping the baton. Help me to be faithful to pass on your truth and Your ways to my children and succeeding generations. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

Don’t miss the podcast for wives and mothers each week:

LIFE TO THE FULL w/ Nancy Campbell

https://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com