Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.

The vision for Meat for Men — UNCOMPROMISING MANHOOD blog is to encourage husbands, fathers and single men in Biblical manhood.

BE AN AVAILABLE FATHER THIS YEAR

BeAvailableMen, one of the greatest responsibilities of good fatherhood is to be available to your children as much as possible. All children need the godly, stabilizing input and influence of their fathers, some more than others.

Please do not leave the overall responsibility of parental presence to your wife. There are many times, even in the daily ministrations of family life, when things go wrong. I think most women tend to be more emotional than men. It’s not their fault. It’s just the way they are wired.

Most men react more rationally and calmer when a child has an accident or gets into trouble. I know that men cannot always be available because of working away from home, but when you get a lunch break or some time to take a break, please give your wife a call. Check up on what’s happening at home.

A husband’s reassuring voice of wisdom goes a long way to calm a wife’s frazzled nerves when things are not going well. When you are at home, be at home. In other words, be involved with your family as much as possible. I think it is possible for some men to be at home, but they might as well not be home. They shut themselves off from their family.

Genesis 22:7 says: “And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father and said, My father: and he said, here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for burnt offering?” Like Isaac, there are many sons and daughters crying out, “My father, my father, where are you? Please answer me. I need your help and wisdom now.”

Fathers, when you are at home, make yourselves available. Even though you may have responsibilities to take care of, even at home, be ready to drop what you are doing to attend to the needy request of your own flesh and blood, your children.

Beware of being overly taken up with your iPhone, computer, favorite hobby, or self-interest. Remember, you are a father FIRST OF ALL. You are an honorable, attentive father. Fatherhood is a crown for your head. Put it on and wear it with godly pride. It is your privilege.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell


Painting by Janice Trane Jones

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PROTECT YOUR LIVING GEMS

ProtectGemsProverbs 31:10 (AMP) states that the virtuous woman is “Far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.” Expensive jewelry is kept in a safe place where it is protected from thieves and destroyers, such as the Crown Jewels.

Sending one’s wife out of the protected environment of a godly home into the unprotected work place is not esteeming her value to be worth more than rubies. While your valuable treasures are kept in a bank vault or in a strong steel case with an expensive lock, your most treasured and loved wife is placed in a work environment of sleazy, flirtatious predators. This does not make sense to me.

No wonder our homes are falling apart and our treasures are thrown to the wind. If you regard your daughters as crown jewels, you will also protect them from the wolves of the work place or crazy colleges.

Father, you have a divine responsibility to protect your living gem stones.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Painting by Marie Kvěchová-Fischerová

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TRY SMILING

fathersmilingdaugtherWhen your heart is turned toward your children, you will find yourself smiling at them more. A loving smile does wonders, even when a child does not deserve it. A smile of agreement and approval always gives encouragement. A knowing smile gives comfort and assurance to a child who needs to overcome insecurity and uncertainty.

Smiling lights up your home and family. Smiling is the language of love. Smiling that comes from a spirit that is in a healthy relationship with the indwelling Christ can melt the hardest rock and break the most solid ice.

Many times, when words don’t bring healing to deepening wounds, why not try smiling? Too many religious Christians think that smiling and laughing are too worldly, frivolous, and carefree and that Christianity is a pious, straight-faced business. Just look at some of the older generation photographs.

And yet smiles are the most healing of all influences. They are also very contagious.

Hebrews 1:9 gives a testimony of Jesus: “Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. He was full of joy, gladness, and smiles more than anyone else!"

Be encouraged to smile more in your home,

Colin Campbell

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD

starry nightMany Christians who say they believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God fail to realize that God's first mandate for all husbands and wives to be fruitful and multiply. It is just as important today as it was to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

"Why is it important?" you ask. It's all about the image and likeness of God. You may think that God's image is His business and not ours. Surely there are other things about God that are more important. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Our very existence in this world is primarily for this express purpose. We should look and act entirely different to the way the world looks and acts.

Are we a clear revelation to this needy world of how God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit looks and acts like? Wouldn't this world be a better place to live in if the image and likeness of God was multiplied and manifested everywhere-in all its glory and clarity? A thousand times, yes.

Is it possible that every child born to a Christian couple and raised in the ways of God, born again, and filled with the Holy Spirit could be like a great neon sign, showing to the world the image of God? Absolutely, yes. Your street, your family, your city, your country, and your world would be far better off with the multiplication of God's image and likeness. God's love, His truth, mercy, holiness, faithfulness, gentleness, kindness, and all His virtues are what it is all about.

It all begins with a newborn baby being raised in the ways of God. And why would we stop with only one? We need to multiply God's image with two, three, four, or however many God plans to give us. This truth needs to be shouted from the roof tops.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

 
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WHERE IS OUR ZEAL?

WhereZealMen, if we have no zeal, we are like gasoline without octane. What man wants to drive a car that has no "get up and go"? Come on! Sluggishness is something we men cannot stand when it comes to driving cars or working any kind of machinery, including computers.

Some may think that zeal sounds a little fanatical, but the truth is that most of us could do with a bit more of it! Some, a lot more of it!

True zeal spurns compromise, especially when it comes to principles. Jesus acted with zealous fanaticism to cleanse the house of God. John 2:17 tells us that it was zeal that motivated his actions.

If it's okay for communists, socialists, progressives, and Islamics to be zealots, what about God’s people?

The Greek word for "zeal" is “zecos” meaning "heat, ardor, fervent mind." It's most important for us men to be zealous for our families, our homes, our principles, our work or career, and most important of all, our service to God. A man without zeal will tend to be overly casual. He will be a "moocher" Have you heard this word before? We use it in New Zealand and Australia for loitering about aimlessly.

A man lacking zeal is like trying to drag around a heavy weight. He has no spring in his step, no oomph in his personality, no twinkle in his eye, and no passion for anything. He is like a dead man walking. He is a bore to be around, a fire without heat, a drag on society. This is not the man being created into the image and likeness of God (Romans 8:29).

THE DEVIL CREATES ZOMBIES. GOD CREATES MEN WITH FIRE IN THEIR BONES.

Zeal knows no apathy. It deplores laziness and slackness. It believes in creativity, enthusiasm, and a job well done. Zeal cannot tolerate sitting around and accomplishing nothing. That’s mooching!

Zeal loves motivation. It rejoices in challenges. It fights for what is right.

Seven times the Bible mentions God possessing and acting with zeal. Zeal is a great motivator. If God uses it to get things done, so should we. Isaiah 9:7 says, "The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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BOTH NATURAL AND SPIRITUAL

BothNaturalThe very first mandate God gave to the husband and wife was: “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth” (Genesis 1:28).

If God believes in fruitfulness and multiplication, so should we. When God gave these words to Adam and Eve, He spoke of the natural and physical. Anyone with an honest mindset must agree.

There are some who argue that God is only interested in spiritual fruitfulness and multiplication, such as John 15:16 where Jesus spoke primarily regarding spiritual fruitfulness.

However, to argue that we do not need to be naturally fruitful to produce a world full of spiritual fruit is plain, straight, ridiculous. God wants fathers and mothers who are spiritually fruitful to bring forth natural sons and daughters. He wants them to raise them up in the fear and admonition of the Lord to multiply spiritual fruitfulness that will influence the whole world—every nation, every city, every village, every home, and every individual.

It is for this purpose God has called and mandated every husband and wife to be fruitful and multiply, both naturally and spiritually. The more children we permit God to give us, the greater potential we have as parents to influence the world for righteousness. We cannot increase righteousness if there is no one created to receive it. As we teach and train our children in the ways of the Lord, the whole earth will be filled with His glory (Numbers 14:21).

Those who call themselves Christians, and yet have no vision to increase and multiply sons and daughters, obviously have no vision to see the world influenced with the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 15:46 tells us: “First which is natural . . . and afterward that which is spiritual.”

Do we believe in God’s Word or our own understanding?

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Picture: Howard and Evangeline Johnson and their ten children.

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STRONG HOMES MAKE STRONG CHURCHES!

StrongHomesSTRONG HOMES MAKE STRONG CHURCHES!

~ Colin Campbell

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NOW IS THE TIME!

NowIsTimeNow is NOT the time for coffee and tea gatherings or prayer breakfasts where we do more talking and breakfasting than praying. Now is not the time for levity, laughing, joking, and telling funny stories.

Now is the time for us to take military action in the spirit realm.

Now is the time for us to pray as families for those who are being downtrodden, beaten, and persecuted.

NOW IS THE TIME TO GET SERIOUS AND ARM OUSELVES TO DO BATTLE.

~ Colin Campbell

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MEN WITH BACKBONE

MenBackboneIt takes men of backbone to speak the truth. Men who are wishbones wish that things were better. They wish they had the prosperity of past years. They wish God would answer their feeble prayers. They wish that someone else would speak up for them. But they themselves will not lift a finger or a toe to make a solid stand for truth. IT'S HIGH TIME FOR MEN WITH REAL BACKBONE TO SPEAK UP FOR TRUTH.

~ Colin Campbell

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WHICH ROAD ARE YOU ON?

GiveMountainGod looks for men who will deny themselves the easy road, especially if the easy road includes the lusts of the flesh and yielding to temptations. Everything is acceptable on the easy road, as long as it makes you feel good and requires no moral resistance.

Homosexuality is okay on the easy road, as is divorce, abortion, drugs, sex, alcohol, and witchcraft.

Matthew 7:13-14 says: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth until life, and few there be that find it."

WHAT DOES THE EASY ROAD LOOK LIKE?

Little prayer
Little Bible
Little work for God
Little sacrifice
Little hospitality
Little giving
Little witness
Little families
Living close to the world
Enjoying the world
No to homeschooling
Living on handouts
Let others pay

WHAT DOES THE HARD ROAD LOOK LIKE?

The road of mountains and battles with giants. Caleb said: “Give me this mountain” (Joshua 14:6-15).
Calling upon the Lord
Sacrifice
Risk-taking
Hard work
Denying the flesh and worldly lusts (2 Corinthians 11:25-30)
The way of the cross

Which is your road?

Be encouraged,

Colin Campbell

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STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD

NeverInfluenceGod looks for men who will stand out from the crowd--men who will not be crowd lovers, crowd blenders, crowd pleasers, or crowd followers, but men who will dare to be different (2 Chronicles 16:9).

~ Colin Campbell

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SLAY YOUR ENEMIES THROUGH PRAYER

FightBattlesOne of the great acts of courage in the Bible (and of course there are many) was displayed by Jonathan, King Saul's son in 1 Samuel, chapters 13-14. The Bible is full of courageous acts.

In 1 Samuel 13:5-7 we read, "And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horseman, and the people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude... When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits."

But in chapter 14 we read of how with great courage, Jonathan and his armor bearer discovered themselves to one of the Philistine garrisons. Jonathan spoke words of faith and courage when he said to his armor bearer: "Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restrain to the Lord to save by many or by few."

In that first encounter, Jonathan, with his armor bearer, slew about 20 men, then God took over. Remember that the only people in all Israel with sword and spear were Saul and Jonathan. Through the spiritual weapons God has given us, we can be like Jonathan. Through prayer (one of our greatest spiritual weapons), we can expose ourselves, slay about 20 devils, and just see what God can do with the rest!

Be encouraged,

Colin Campbell

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GET SPARKY

GetSparkyMen who do not have "spark" are bland and boring. Their eyes are dull and lifeless. They have no oomph in their personality or spring in their step.

We know how bad it is when we keep pulling the rope to start the engine of the lawnmower but there is no spark. You feel like throwing the wrench at it! No woman should marry a man like this and no one should ever hire such a man.

Spark denotes life. As men get older, they tend to lose their spark and zest for life, but I do not believe that it should be this way. Men should take all the corrective measures possible to stop themselves from oxidizing and getting rusty. We know that drugs, alcohol, and pornography can ruin a man's personality. Sitting around and living a sedentary lifestyle, coupled with laziness, and not showing initiative, also takes the spark out of a man.

Mountain climbers would never dream of taking a man without any spark on such a dangerous expedition. God also wants men like Abraham and Caleb with lots of spark to climb His mountains.

Let’s be reminded again of Caleb’s confession: “As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come. Now therefore GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN” (Joshua 14:12, 12). This mountain was inhabited by giants, but he was ready to take them on at 85 years of age!

Remember, it only takes a few sparks to get a fire going. The best sparks come from Christians filled with the Holy Spirit. Reading God's Word and praying daily are an excellent combination to create sparks.

~ Colin Campbell

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DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

DareDiffMen, if we are going to be men of courage, we must speak up for what's right when the opportunity presents itself. If you have any truth in you, for goodness sake, SAY IT! Do not hide truth behind closed doors. Edmund Burke wrote, "All it takes for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing."

God is calling for all Christian men to use every opportunity possible to be light shiners and salt preservers. It is high time for us men to tell it the way it is, no matter who is listening. We may get persecuted for it. We may lose our job for it. Even our friends at church, who we wish to impress, may despise us when we do not toe the party line. So what! It's time for men to "play the man" and get rid of all that is gutless.

No more time for powder puffs who hold their peace when the sword should be drawn.

~ Colin Campbell

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MEN WHO WILL NOT COMPROMISE

CollapseThe nation needs men who will not compromise their moral values, even under extreme pressure. It needs men who will not compromise truth, even if it financially advantages them to do so. Some men will say anything to get what they want, whether in marriage, promotion, election to public office, or government hand-outs.

God looks for men who will not compromise biblical values, no matter what! The Holy Spirit who indwells all Christians is not compromising. He must be grieved at the way we compromise so easily over divorce, accepting the children He wants to give us, and homeschooling them to save them from humanistic propaganda and morally corrupt peers.

~ Colin Campbell

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I WILL WALK IN INTEGRITY

IntegrityWalkJob said: "Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me" (Job 27:5).
A man of integrity will always speak the truth, no matter what pressure he is under to do otherwise.
A man of integrity will always speak the truth even if it hurts him to do so.
A man of integrity will not only speak the truth, he will live the truth.
A man of integrity is trustworthy. If he says he will do something, he will do it. You can bank on his word.

~ Colin Campbell

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MARRIAGE IS MUCH MORE THAN A CEREMONY

DailyBuilding"Marriage is much more than a ceremony and a certificate. It is a daily building assignment."

~ Colin Campbell

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MARRIAGE ORDAINED BY GOD

MarriageOrdained"Marriage ordained by God is with one man and one woman. No exceptions."

~ Colin Campbell

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MEN WITH BACKBONE

MenBackboneWho can tolerate a spineless man?
The nation needs men with backbone--
Men with backbone in their commitment to Christ and His course!
Men who have stickability in the battle of life!
Men who will not bend and bow in the face of opposition!
Men who will not give up on their marriage and fatherhood!
Men who, no matter what the enemy hurls at them, will not quit.

~ Colin Campbell

Painting: “Pardners” by Sonya Terpening (1954, American).

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ARE YOU CHANGING THE WORLD OR BEING CHANGED BY THE WORLD?

PrayerWeaponPrayer has the power to change the world.
Without it the world has the power to change us!

~ Colin Campbell

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Above Rubies Address

AboveRubies
Email Nancy

PO Box 681687
Franklin, TN 37068-1687

Phone : 931-729-9861
Office Hrs 9am - 5pm, M - F, CTZ