ABOVE RUBIES MINI-NEWSLETTER #2, Apr 2011
Dear Above Rubies reader,
Spring is here in Tennessee. It is so beautiful—starting with the daffodils of which I have about 1,000 planted on our land! Then the dazzling white blossoms of the Bradford Pear trees, then the Redbuds and now my favorite, the Dogwoods are flowering. I think I could call our place Dogwood Delight. I look out my kitchen window and see them flowering everywhere. I look out my front window and again I enjoy their beautiful white glory. What a blessing.
I am sure you are enjoying the new issue of Above Rubies. You are welcome to write for extra copies if you would like to share them with others. Don’t keep the truth to yourselves but make it known to everyone you meet.
In this Newsletter:
CANADIANS DON’T HAVE TO MISS OUT
HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN
ONE OF THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH
ABOVE RUBIES RETREATS
My daughters and I have just returned from a wonderful Ladies Retreat in Texas. One of the ladies, Tara Young, wrote this little poem in memory and shared it at Testimony Time on Sunday morning.
Last day! Sorrowful goodbyes…
Convicting sessions about the enemy’s lies
I believed without batting an eye!
A far cry from what God planned between two…
A woman and a man.
More than two? Oh, yes, dear Lord,
I can imagine adopting four!
Six to nine, we’ll wait and see,
We just want to glorify Thee!
Selfishness and eyes off You
Were not the wisest thing to do!
Forgive us, Lord, and help us see
The parents you have called us to be!
CANADIANS DON’T HAVE TO MISS OUT
Our next retreat is at the end of April in Canada, at the Wilderness Edge Retreat Centre, north east of Winnipeg.
Pearl, Serene and Evangeline will also be coming.
To find out more details contact: Michelle Kauenhofen
Ph: 204-388-6015 (noon – 4.00 pm or after 8 pm)
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOUR HUSBAND - NOW AVAILABLE AS BOOK OR E-BOOK
Have you downloaded the HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOUR HUSBAND - E-Book which is advertised on the back page of the magazine? Do you want to enhance your marriage? This book will give you many wonderful ideas and in doing so, you’ll be blessed too. I was very inspired myself as I put this book together. Go to http://bit.ly/HowToEncourageHusbands to download.
Because of many requests, we now have HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOUR HUSBAND in printed form. You can now order it for $11.95 in book form. Call us at 1 877 729 9861 or go to http://bit.ly/EncourageBook to order it from the Bookstore.
HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN
I am now working on a new eBook, HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN. If you have a great idea or something that has helped you to encourage your children, there is still time for you to write in. Email it to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and type ENCOURAGE in the Subject heading. Type only once space between sentences. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.
CORRECT EMAIL For Nancy Campbell
We have now canceled our Hughes satellite and are using Millenicom which is far more efficient. Therefore, we will no longer receive any Hughes.net emails. The only email I use currently is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ABOVE RUBIES YOUTUBE VIDEOS
HOW WE CONDUCT FAMILY DEVOTIONS
In Above Rubies # 79 I wrote an article, FAMILY DEVOTIONS: THE WIFE’S PART and promised that we would film a YouTube of conducting our Family Devotions! Here it is at last! You can go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPXL6Yo0slE and watch it. Around our table in this YouTube we have our Above Rubies helpers, plus our daughter, Mercy and grandchildren, Meadow and Rocklyn Barrett. It’s very “down to earth” so I hope you don’t mind that we don’t look very professional. But I am sure the evening meal is very “down to earth” in your home too.
By the way, if you haven’t read Family Devotions: The Wife’s Part, I’d encourage you to read it. If you don’t have Above Rubies, # 79, you can email me for a copy. It’s a marvelous article to share with others too. Don’t forget to type your name and address.
Or you can read it under Family Meal Table | Family Devotions - The Wife's Part section of the articles on the main website. The success of keeping up with Family Devotions in the home is really 98 percent the wife’s part and two percent the husband’s part! This article will give you secrets to help make it happen in your home. Remember my favorite saying: “Things don’t just happen: you have to MAKE THEM HAPPEN!”
I PROMISE TO LOVE YOU I DO!
Our daughter, Mercy put beautiful wedding pictures to Serene and Pearl’s song, I DO from their album, THIS IS OUR ROAD. To enjoy by watching and listening click on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bfh3tbzE6Y
You and your husband will find it delightful to watch it together. It will bring back memories of your wedding and your promise to love each other for ever.
ABOVE RUBIES MOVIE
Last year, two of our Above Rubies helpers from Australia, Jessica and Loretta Robertson made a little home movie which includes a lot of our grandchildren. It is filmed in and around our home. If you haven’t already seen it and would like to come to our home for a visit, here is the link for the free download of THE GREAT REBELLION:
FIGHTING INJUSTICE
Isaiah 59:14-15 is a picture of what is happening in our nation today, “Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the street, and uprightness cannot enter. Yes, truth is lacking; and he who turns aside from evil makes himself a prey. Now the Lord saw, and it was displeasing to His sight that there was no justice.”
I have just watched the documentary, FOREVER FAMILY of Larry and Hannah Overton. The little child they were adopting through the foster system suddenly became very ill, was rushed to hospital but unfortunately died. The CPS and courts accused this innocent and loving family of his death and Hannah is now in prison with life sentence and no parole. This is total injustice and must be exposed. You can help Hannah by going to their web site, www.freehannah.com and click on GET INVOLVED and take action to do everything you can to help—write letters to help free Hannah and to expose the terrible injustice and lies of our justice system.
You can also go to: http://www.foreverfamilyfilm.com/how-to-help/
OR to order the movie, FOREVER FAMILY >> http://www.foreverfamilyfilm.com/purchase-film/.
I am sure that if we were in this terrible predicament we would want people to help us. Let’s try and do everything we can to stand up for truth.
ONE OF THE HAPPIEST PEOPLE ON EARTH
Elisabeth Snell, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who wrote Head Over Heels in Love in Above Rubies, # 80 emailed me this delightful testimony from her 12-year-old, son, Sebastian:
"You know, most people don't want to have lots of children because they think they won't be able to give them all the attention they need. I'm a twelve year old boy with three brothers under five. I love my little brothers a lot and am very thankful for them. I was eight years old when my first brother was born. I must've been one of the happiest people on earth.
Before my brothers were born I was very lonely. I would pray for brothers every day. Having them has also forced me to become less selfish. I think one of the best parts of brotherhood is showing them stuff. They are amazed when I show them magic tricks. Plus, if you're the oldest (like me) you'll practically have your own fan club."
PRAYER FOR BABY IN THE WOMB
Val Stares, the Director of Above Rubies in Australia was asked by a church to write a prayer to pray over babies in the womb. Here is the prayer which you may also like to pray over women who have new life growing in their womb.
“Father God, we thank You for visiting (name of mother) and filling her with child. We praise You for this new and precious life that is growing within her womb. It is so very awesome to consider that You have made yet another image of Yourself and we look forward in eager anticipation to the fullness of time when we can gaze upon Your handiwork.
We ask you Father, in Jesus Name, that You hedge about this little baby as it grows within the womb, this special place of protection that You have provided for it. May You keep it from all harm. We also ask You to protect (name of mother) throughout her pregnancy and that she sustain good health and vitality.
We pray that you watch over the labour and birth and bring forth the baby safely from the womb. We acknowledge that this baby is Your reward and we praise Your Holy name. Amen.”
HELP FOR FAMILY DEVOTIONS
Emily Alexander, a 19-year old daughter writes, “Family Devotions has always been a struggle. Sometimes we were very consistent, but it never lasted long. I think it was really discouraging for Dad. He wanted to do it, but it was always a challenge. Last year you advertised THE DAILY LIGHT. Mom ordered a copy and this book has been such a blessing! Dad now reads every night at supper. Since it doesn’t work for us to read in the morning, he now reads both portions in the evening—a double-dosage of God’s precious Word! It has been so good!”
ABOVE RUBIES ON FACEBOOK
Have you joined the Above Rubies Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/AboveRubiesUS) yet?
It is a wonderful way to be encouraged each day in your great high calling. Each morning, Michelle (who is the Director of Above Rubies in Canada and the mother of 11 children) and I write a small post to inspire and encourage you. You can read the posts and then get off the computer and on to your great career of nurturing and educating your family.
I have copied off a few random posts to encourage you in case you are not yet on the Above Rubies Facebook.
Do you feel you are poor? Can't pay the bills! Your house is too small! You are in the very situation to make many people rich (2 Cor 6:10) You can make your husband rich by making your home a sanctuary of love, joy and contentment. You make your children rich by showing how to have a joyful attitude even in trials. You make them rich as you daily impart God's Word richly into their lives (Colossians 3:16). Nancy
Do you feel "victimized" in an area of your life today? Are you battling self-pity? Christ had every reason to wallow in self-pity and He was the ultimate victim! Yet he never behaved as a victim and He continued to pour Himself out for His family! With Him as our strength, no matter what we face, we can do the same! Love Michelle
I LOVE MOTHERHOOD! Every mother loves her children, but not every mother loves motherhood. This is the secret to entering into the joy of motherhood for which God created us. Motherhood is not something to run from as the liberalists advocate but to EMBRACE! Start off every day confessing out loud, I LOVE MOTHERHOOD. You will be amazed how this attitude will change your mothering and your whole household! Nancy
Isn't it strange how opposite our culture is to the example Christ set? He said "Let the children come to me" and yet our society continually looks for ways to get the children out of our way. Set the tone by enjoying every child that crosses your path today and in this way you will also be following Christ's example. Love Michelle
"For the ear tests words, as the palate tastes food" (Job 34:3). Our taste determines what we eat. We spit out nasty foods! We do not have to accept every thought that comes into our head. The devil tries to pull us down and immobilize us by putting negative thoughts in our mind--deceiving, doubting, discouraging and despairing thoughts! Don't accept them. Spit them out! Love from Nancy
Motherhood is about so much more than children born of your own womb. Motherhood comes in many forms! Adoption, fostering, and the often forgotten mentoring! How often do we hear the expression, "She is like a second mother to me"? Who are you mothering today? Opportunities abound to nurture and breathe love into all kinds of lives around you! Leave a trail for them that is worth following! Love Michelle
I read this morning and wrote in my journal Hosea 11:3-4, "It is I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms... I led them with cords of love... and I bent down and fed them." What a beautiful picture of our God, revealing His nurturing, mothering attributes from where we derive our motherhood. Isn't it so amazing that God still bends down to us to meet our needs? Love, Nancy
As a mother, I spend plenty of time tidying "trails" that others leave behind. As I pondered this, I realized that we all "leave a trail" of sorts, and that our trails should be worth following. My older children are leaving a trail for their siblings to follow, and I challenge them to make their trail worth following. We all leave a trail. Is mine (and yours) worth following? Love Michelle
C. H. Spurgeon wrote, "Are we not in Christ made kings to reign upon the earth? How, then, can we be the servants of custom, the slaves of human opinion?” When people say derogatory remarks to you about having more than the usual two children, don't be intimidated. You are not living by humanistic standards but by the eternal truths of God's Word. Never be ashamed of the blessing of children. Love from Nancy
I love it when modern day studies prove what God already laid out for us in His word! A study on increasing happiness listed these 5 things as key: helping others, expressing gratitude, forgiving, looking for the positive, and making religious practice a habit! All of these keys to happiness are given to us in the Bible! We truly need no other advice! Love Michelle
What kind of a face did you wake up with this morning? Gloomy and frowning? Sunny and happy? Proverbs 17:22 GNB says, “Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.” You can choose! Your spirit should rule your flesh. Even if you feel miserable, put on a smile! Your heart will change to cheerful and your children will start smiling too! Love from Nancy
Isn't it amazing how fast grumpiness can rob joy out of the home? I must admit that I let this affect me all too often! It is better to realize that time is very precious, and that there will never be another day just like today! Focusing on the blessings in the day, knowing that this day will never pass again, helps me guard against letting the joy be robbed! Love Michelle
Evangeline popped in a little while ago. "I have a new revelation," she said. Motherhood is equated with joy (Psalm 113:9). Children are joy-bringers! They fill our lives with joy. But do the give us peace? Well, children are loud! Children exert energy! It is God who gives peace! God says in Isaiah 66:12, "I will extend peace to her like a river." God extends peace to you. Look to Him for your peace. Nancy
Date nights, or some form of couple time, is so important to a marriage. Yesterday as I was getting ready to go out with Cam, our seven year old daughter, Jilissa smiled at me and said, "I will leave you alone so you can get ready for your DATE with DAD!!" She was so excited about it! Children love to see their parents in love and spending time together! Love Michelle
I woke this morning with 1 Peter 5:8-9 on my heart, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: whom RESIST steadfast in the faith." The devil doesn't want us to build up our marriages and homes. He wants to destroy them. We have a responsibility, not only to guard our hearts but also our homes, from every subtle inroad of the enemy! Nancy
I was sitting in my dimly lit room pondering the depths of Psalm 107:33-43, when my 11 year old son walked in and saw me with the Bible in my lap. As he passed my doorway, he lifted up his right hand, as though to add impact to his statement, and said with vigor, "The best BOOK in the world!" That's right my son, that's right! Small mercies every day! Love Michelle
Do you have turmoil in your life? Are you bowed down with worry? God's Word comes to you, "Return unto thy rest, O my soul" (Psalm 116:7). Christ Jesus is your rest. Look to Him. Trust in Him. Thank Him for His rest that fills your soul. When you dwell on your problem you will stay in a state of anxiety; when you trust in Christ you will experience true rest. Don't forget your resting place! Love, Nancy
What are you wearing today? Your "down in the dumps" dress? Your "grumble groaning" dress? Pretty ugly, aren't they? Why not wear something from your new wardrobe which God has given you? Your "joyful" dress, or perhaps your "pretty patience" dress. You can choose to wear the drab clothes of your old life or the new ones of the Spirit which we are commanded to put on. Read Ephesians 4:22-24. Love, Nancy
Psalm 113:9, "He makes the barren woman to keep house and to be a JOYFUL mother of children." What do you do when you don't feel joyful? SMILE anyway! It’s amazing how your attitude will catch up with your facial expression! Get up from this computer and smile at your children. Smile each time you look at them. Not only will you begin to feel joyful, but you will soon have a houseful of smiling children. Nancy
Just as God is the "Keeper of Israel," so we show the character of God when we are keepers of our homes. (Psalm 121 and Titus 2:2-5). What a blessing to be the "keeper of the home." It is no small thing. As we keep our marriages and homes strong, we also keep the nation! The nation weakens when the home weakens. Love, Nancy
Are you being robbed? Perhaps your joy is missing? Our culture tries to rob us of our God-given role and the joy that comes with fulfilling it. Be robbed no longer! Live counter-culture and be proud of it! Who cares what the world says! Nothing pays better than the love and affection of a child, and the peace of living in God's will. Love Michelle
"Make every meal into a love affair." This is my challenge for each meal I create. It is not a matter of putting a meal together, but making the table a place where everyone in the family loves to come. Enjoy preparing your meals today, dear mothers. Don't do it out of resignation, but out of revelation, knowing that every meal has the power to bless your family and bring the presence of God to your home. Love Nancy
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" Heb 11:1. I need this today in my sleep deprived state. He will give me the strength to be pleasant, sweet and nurturing! He can do anything! His power through me will allow me to build up, and not tear down! There will be encouragement, smiles, and praise, not self-pity! Love Michelle
What does it mean to be who God created you to be as a female? I think of these words--femininity, womanliness, conception, wombing, life-giving, mothering, nurturing nesting, nourishing, feeding, succoring, embracing, enriching, encouraging, helping, inspiring, comforting, strengthening, forgiving and self-sacrificing. In this capacity, you not only nurture your family, but you build a nation! Love, Nancy
HIDDEN BEAUTY
Elisabeth Snell, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. writes:
Outside our parlor window grows a Tropicana climbing rose. It's a very odd bright orange coral color, and it takes forever to bloom. The first year we had one (perfect!) bloom, the second year we had three or four, and this year it's blooming wonderfully. The prettiest rose it's grown for us this year is turned as though it's looking in the window. Now, from the street it would be hidden. You'd hardly see it, if at all. However, this one rose lights up the parlor by peeking in the window, and to those of us who share this little place, it's the best rose on the bush. We can see every detail of its beauty.
It makes me think about little jobs that no one else sees. My children see a lot of work that no one else ever will. They see my struggles to become who I should be, and the times I fail. If I focus more on what everyone outside thinks of me than what those inside receive from me, I will fail at giving my best to my children. If all the outside sees is a bunch of leaves and stem, then so be it, if I can give my dear family a shining and full face of bloom.
SOUTH AFRICAN EGROUP
From Marelize Keyter, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
“I've started a Yahoo group for Above Rubies ladies in South Africa to encourage, help and guide each other in our own special country with its unique limitations as well as its challenges. Here’s the link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ARSouthAfrica/
TENNESSEE FAMILIES
Brenda Weatherly, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. writes:
An Invitation For East Tennessee Families!
If you live in East Tennessee, you may be interested in joining our group titled
"East TN Co-op and Barter". We meet on the third Sundays of the month at 6 pm
at our home in Loudon. Last month was the first meeting and potluck. This is an
informal, fun time to fellowship with other Christians and to exchange/barter
items, such as garden produce, homeschool books, children's clothing, home-baked goods and bread, raw milk, even services and skills such as handyman work, welding, sewing, furniture making, etc. There is a local Christian chiropractor (who happens to be a homeschool graduate) that would like to barter his chiropractic services. Another family has an organic chicken farm. Another family has an herb farm. Someone has wood on their property that they will barter out. There are more than a dozen families signed up to come to the second meeting in April and I imagine that this group may grow even larger as word spreads.
We believe that as a body of believers, it is important to actually BE the Church that we see as an example in Acts, of sharing and looking out for one another's needs. Our group is a non-denominational group and we will not have divisions that cause for controversy be brought up at the meetings. We believe that times may get hard here in America soon and we would like to be prepared for that, but more importantly, even if times don't get hard, we need to seek out fellow believers to fellowship with (not just in our own church congregations). We do not want to be merely self-sufficient, but we want to look for ways to serve others with the things that the Lord has blessed us with.
If you would be interested in coming to the next potluck, please email me and I
will send directions to our home in Loudon, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
May God bless you mightily in your high calling of being a wife and mother. You are determining the course of the nation.
In His service,
Nancy Campbell