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.

PSALM 127

The following is the FERRAR FENTON BIBLE translation of Psalm 127:

If the LORD builds not the House,
In the vain the builders strive;
If the LORD watch not the Tower,
In vain the Watchman guards.
In vain for you to rise at dawn,
And late to go to rest,
And eat of carefulness the bread,
When He gives His darlings sleep.

See! Children are the LORD’S estate,
The body’s sweetest fruits;
Like arrows in a giant’s hand,
Are they, your youthful sons.
The man is blest who has with them,
Filled up his quiver full,
He will not shame when he may meet,
His foemen in the Gate.

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HOLY SPIRIT-FILLED FATHERING

HolySpiritFilledFatheringI begin this new series today.

One of the most important roles a man can have is to be a father. Better still, to be an anointed father.

Leonard Ravenhill said: “In all thy getting, get unction.” Unction is another word for anointing. Perhaps we have been wrong in primarily equating the anointing with preaching and certain music which moves us deep down in our hearts and spirits.

We read in the Scriptures that the original anointing oil was applied to the High Priest of Israel and to his sons who were set apart from the secular to serve the Lord in a religious sense. The kings of Israel were also anointed with olive oil and set apart to lead God’s people in a civil sense.

The anointing was often accompanied with divine wisdom, authority, and prophetic utterances. The anointing enabled the anointed to accomplish amazing and miraculous feats to overcome their enemies. The anointing brought God on the scene.

I believe that the Christian families of our nation need Holy Spirit-filled fathers to raise sons and daughters in the ways of God, especially in these challenging times.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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HOW CAN WE GIVE?

HowCanGiveIt is true that we can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving. John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

How you can give heart-felt love to your family and others who are part of your life?
1. Give your smiles of approval.
2. Lavish encouraging words.
3. Give sympathy.
4. Give advice and counsel.
5. Help and give support wherever possible.
6. Give fellowship, friendship, and time.
7. Give financial assistance when appropriate.
8. Organize trips and excursions (especially surprises!).
9. Give heart-felt affection.
10. Offer forgiveness freely.
11. Pray for your wife, children, and those who need your prayers.
12. Give your children good doses of God’s Word each day.

If God as a father gave His very best for us because He wanted us to become His own special sons and daughters, how can we not be like Him in our fatherhood?

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Painting: “Testing the Waters” by New Zealand artist, Barry Ross Smith.

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HOME AGAIN

ColinHomeAgainNancy and I are now back from the long trip to New Zealand and Australia. We had good meetings. The presence of the Lord was very rich and His anointing flowed through all the meetings. It was also a wonderful time to meet up with many relatives along the way. The love and hospitality shown to us was truly amazing.

We arrived home Thursday evening and the next day attended the “Teach them Diligently” Home School Curriculum Fair at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. I enjoyed speaking at two excellent well-attended seminars on the 1st April which was my 77th birthday.

I praise the Lord that my fractured hip and pelvis have healed well. This happened nearly eight weeks ago when I felt outside a thrift warehouse where I deliver day old bread. Praise the Lord for His tender mercies that enabled me to leave my crutches at home and I managed to walk through the airports without assistance.

Tomorrow I will begin again to share with you the needed encouragement to men. The need is very great. Fatherlessness is America’s biggest social problem of epidemic proportions. Twenty million children in USA are without present fathers.

57.6 percent black children
31.2 percent Hispanic children, and
20.7 percent while children.

Plus, millions more who have fathers who are present, but ae not emotionally present.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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LOVING FATHERS ARE GIVING FATHERS

LovingFathersMen, loving and giving are insuperable twins. You cannot love without giving, although you can give with loving. But that’s not the way it should be.

Love always motivates God’s giving. We all know John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The words, “God SO LOVED the world” express the great motivating intensity of His love for the fallen world.

How can we say we love our children if we are not prepared to give to them loving smiles, loving time, loving conversation, loving interest, and even loving discipline? Proverbs 13:24 says: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son, but he that loveth him chasteneth hi quickly.”

John 3:35 says: “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand” Even Jesus, the beloved Son, suffered the testings and disciplines of life (without sin) given to him by the loving hand of His Ever-loving Father.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Painting by Harry Anderson

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BE THERE continued.

DadHugsMen, sons and daughters often have serious questions to ask their fathers, just as Isaac asked his father Abraham the whereabouts of the sacrificial lamb? But so often fathers are missing. They are doing their own thing, minding their own business, and attending to their own needs other than that of their children.

I once heard a prophetic utterance as I was about to return home from a men’s conference. The message came forth that the heavens are weeping over our nation’s children who are crying themselves to sleep because they have no fathers to answer their questions.

I am shocked and horrified at how many children in our nation who do not have fathers present in their lives. The U.S. Census Bureau states in Fatherhood Data and Statistics that 24 million children, one out of every three, live without a biological father. These statistics are tragic!

Absent fathers have drastically weakened the nation. Fatherhood is an awesome responsibility. Failure to take up this challenge through lack of interest or selfish priorities reveals a great weakness of character that is not acceptable. In fact, if is plain irresponsible.

Marriage breakdown and divorce is also a main contributor to absent fatherhood. All children need loving, understanding, kind fathers who make every endeavor to be present and involved with their families. Every child is another link in the generational chain and parents must make every effort to make that generational link as strong as possible.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell


Painting: “Daddy Loves Me” by Jane Heinrichs

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BE THERE!

BeThereMen, 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 there 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 smart phone, 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: “Once, they were young” by Pascal Campion

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PROTECT YOUR LIVING GEMS

LovingGemsProverbs 31:10 (AMP) states that the virtuous woman is “Far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.”

I am sure the same thing could be said of finding a virtuous man who is also of high value. A virtuous woman whose “price is far above rubies” is worthy of a virtuous man who will nourish, care, love, and protect her.

All fine 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

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FATHERS ARE NEEDED

FathersNeededPsalm 103:13: “As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities them that fear him.”

Although it is innately in young children to honor their fathers and mothers, this God-given instinct must be nurtured, encouraged, and developed by loving, sensitive parents. Mothers are more likely to be softer and understanding of the child’s feelings and needs than fathers.

However, because they are more masculine in their ways, fathers must constantly remember they are not coaching a football or basketball team that needs knocking into shape. Nor are they army sergeants bulldozing new recruits into shape. Army drill sergeants and football/basketball coaches are often mean-spirited and aggressively controlling in order to produce a winning team.

This is not the way we raise our children, who are our own flesh and blood, into the image of God. Our children need to know that we love them, not only by our words, but even more importantly, by our actions and attitudes.

Years ago, I had the opportunity to meet the head Chaplin of one of the Los Angeles prisons for men. He told me the successful story in getting male prisoners to send Mother’s Day cards (provided free by Hallmark) to their mother on Mother’s Day.

Because it was such a huge success the prison authorities decided to provide Father’s Day cards for the inmates to send to their fathers on Father’s Day. All the men at the prison received a card to send to their fathers, courtesy of Hallmark. Sad to say, it was a complete failure. No one seemed to have any high enough esteem to send their fathers a Father’s Day card. How very sad, and yet what a revealing indictment regarding the failure of fatherhood in each one of those prisoner’s lives.

In many ways, one could conclude that one of the main reasons for their sons being I prison was the failure of their fathers to be loving, encouraging fathers. Conversely, how wonderful it is to hear sons and daughters speak highly of their fathers.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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DADS SHOULD BE STORY TELLERS.

DadsStoryHow children love to hear their father telling them stories, especially stories he makes up!

STORY TELLING

Most every night when they’re in bed,
And both their little prayers have said,
They shout for me to come upstairs,
And tell them tales of grizzly bears,
And Indians and gypsies bold,
And eagles with the claws that hold
A baby’s weight, and fairy sprites
That roam the woods on starry nights.

And I must illustrate these tales,
Must imitate the northern gales
That toss the Indian’s canoe,
And show the way he paddles, too.
If in the story comes a bear,
I have to pause and sniff the air
And show the way he climbs the trees
To steal the honey from the bees.

And then I buzz like angry bees
And sting him on the nose and knees
And howl in pain, till mother cries;
“That pair will never shut their eyes,
While all that noise up there you make;
You’re simply keeping them awake.”
And then they whisper: “Just one more,”
And once again I’m forced to roar.

New stories every night they ask,
And that is not an easy task;
I have to be so many things;
The frog that croaks, the lard that sings,
The cunning fox, the frightened hen;
But just last night they stumped me, when
They wanted me to twist and squirm
And imitate an angleworm.

At last they tumbled off to sleep,
And softly from their room I creep
And brush and comb the shock of hair
I tossed about to be a bear.
Then mother says: “Well, I should say
You’re just as much a child as they.”
But you can bet I’ll not resign
That story-telling job of mine.

By Edgar A. Guest

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FATHERHOOD - AN HONORABLE ESTATE

Fatherhood is an HONORABLE estate.

FatherhoodHonorable

Painting by Daniel Rodgers - "Learning to Ride"

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A FATHER’S CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS CHILDREN 1. IT CAN BE CHALLENGED

FathersCloseFathers should seek a close relationship with each of their children. Even though there may be times when this relationship can be challenged through deliberate rebellion or foolish, headstrong wills and opinions, a righteous father will always endeavor to BUILD BRIDGES to restore the broken relationship.

Building a close relationship takes time, persistence, and self-sacrifice. Each one of our children should know, without any doubt, that we are for them, even if we may not be able to agree with them.

Some may ask: in what way, should our children know we are for them if what they are doing is sinful and contrary to godly parental standards?

• They need to be assured that no matter what, we will continue to love them even though we do not love their sin. We are for them in that we constantly pray for their repentance.
• They need to know that we are for them being set free from the devil’s slavery and bondage.
• They need to know that even though we cannot put a roof over their rebellion when they are old enough to live away from us, they will always be welcome to come home when they repent.
• They need to know that we will never hold their sinful past against them when they desire restoration based on repentance.

The Father God reassured His children, Israel, with this truth repeatedly through the Scriptures. Even though our heavenly Father was constantly driven to anger and had to apply righteous discipline, His anger was always quickly appeased at the first instance of repentance.

Read 1 Kings 21:27-29 and Psalm 78:31-72.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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HELP! WHAT CAN WE DO?

HeartsFathersIf the present generation of fathers are just doing what seems right in their own eyes, what will the next generation of fathers be like? One writer says that we are only one generation away from degeneration.

The fact that our prisons are filled with men, both young and old, is a testimony to our nation’s failure in godly fathering. Our once famous universities are now nest beds of propagating the liberal agenda, violence, looting, smashing windows and general thuggery to get their own selfish way. Right from the Saul Alinsky text book! Their screaming and yelling of hate and profanities is a testimony to the failure of their fathers and mothers. Unfortunately, our tax dollars are paying for all of this.

The righteous cry out: “Help. Somebody please show us what to do.”

Malachi 4:5, 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 the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

We must pray for this special anointing that was prophesied for John the Baptist at the first coming of Christ to come upon another “John the Baptist” or many with this anointing for this generation that awaits the second coming of Christ.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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ABSENTEE FATHERHOOD continued.

AbsenteeFather2Currently, it has become a rare thing to find caring and loving fathers.

John 8:29 says: “And he that sent me is with me: the father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” Repeatedly Jesus emphasized how much His Heavenly Father was involved in His ministry. He credited all the miracles He performed to His Father by saying: “The Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works” (John 14:10).

God was never an absentee Father with Jesus--from eternity past to eternity to come.

Fatherhood and sonship are inseparable positions. Each one of us fathers need to sit up and take note. Every father needs to be more deeply involved in the lives of all their children—sons and daughters.

God our Father is the prototype of all fatherhood. Ephesians 3:14, 15: “For this because I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.”

God desires that all families should be under the influence of a godly father. We have allowed present day culture to virtually destroy God’s vision for fatherhood. What we now call fatherhood is almost unrecognizable compared to the image of our Father God from the beginning and revealed through Jesus when He was here on earth. It is truly a time to recap on the true image of our Father God.

Far too many fathers do what they think is right. The problem in most cases is that they have never been taught. How can we ever succeed in any career, especially one that deals with living souls who have eternal destinies, without first being trained by true, godly fathers?

To be continued. Be encouraged,

Colin Campbell

Painting by Daniel F. Gerhartz

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GOD IS NOT AN ABSENTEE FATHER

AbsenteeFatherAbsentee fathers are not true fathers. They are a contradiction to fatherhood. Fatherhood is an “on the job” career. Fatherhood is the highest career known to man. To understand the importance of fatherhood we must ask ourselves the question: how would we feel if God was never available to us or revealed Himself to us as our Father?

How amazing to know that God is our Father? He tenderly cares for us. He is ever mindful of us. He engraves us on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16).

John 14:23 gives us an even greater revelation of God in the lives of those who love Him and keep His words. Jesus said: “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”

This is amazing fatherhood. It reveals how much God our Father desires to be intimately involved in our lives. He wants to live with us. God is not an absentee Father. Perish the thought.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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WHERE ARE THE FATHERS?

WhereAreFathersTrue fathers are loving and available fathers. Jesus said in John 8:29: “He that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone.”

Where are the fathers of this generation? This is a huge question. If this generation fails, is it the children’s fault? Or is it the fault of the fathers? Our country is rocking and reeling under the effects of mob riots, violence, and destruction. We can thank God we have a president who is deeply opposed to all this violent, criminal activity. We can also thank God for our new Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, who is of the same mind as our president to support the Police Force and come down strongly against murder, violence, and disrespect for law and authority.

We as Christian men must pray now for our president, Donald Trump, and all members of his cabinet. How can they be successful if we do no care enough to pray earnestly for them? We also need to pray for great repentance for all moral and civil disobediences. Locking up those who are rebellious, rioters, and murderers, although I agree it must be done, does not necessarily change their hearts and ways. We are reaping the results of a great national failure of godly fatherhood and motherhood, marriage, and pretty much all biblical family values.

But there is still hope if we repent and pray!

Malachi 4:5, 6: “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 heat of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”

Pray for the turning of fathers’ hearts to their children and families. Fatherhood is not absentee fatherhood, but available fatherhood. Jesus confessed that His Father was always with him.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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I WOULD VALUE YOUR PRAYERS

Each week, Monday, and Friday, I go into the city to specific supermarkets to pick up day old bread and cookies to take to needy people in our area. As I delivered the bread to Helping Hands I slipped on a wet mat and fractured my pelvis.

I thank God that my beloved heavenly Father provides in the atonement, not only forgiveness of sins (which is more than amazing), but also physical healing (Isaiah 543:4,5; Matthew 8: 16, 17; and 1 Peter 2:24). Jesus demonstrated this in his ministry on earth by giving forgiveness of sins and healing to the multitudes.

Thank you so much for your prayers for my healing. My wife and I are scheduled to leave in four weeks for ministry in New Zealand and so I am trusting for a supernatural healing.

~ Colin Campbell

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FATHERHOOD IN GOD’S IMAGE, GOD IS THE PROTOTYPE

SleepingChild2Today we come back to our series on FATHERHOOD IN GOD’S IMAGE

Psalm 11:3 states: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Fatherhood, without doubt, is one of the most important foundations upon which we build a healthy society!

Fatherhood is one of the greatest roles a man can have the privilege to live and fulfill.

Without the function of true fatherhood, society quickly fails. Strong fathers are necessary to make strong families and strong families make a strong nation.

Christian men are greatly privileged to know God as their Father. Jesus said in John 14:6: “No man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” To know God as our Father is indeed a priceless treasure to experience. In the Gospel of John alone the name of the Father is mentioned approximately 123 times. Jesus spoke of God as Father more than any writer in the Bible.

In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus taught us to pray: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). To me, this surely means that the name of God as Father is a hallowed name, a name to be reverenced, to make holy and sacred.

God is the prototype of all true fatherhood. There is a strong sense of love, intimacy, care, protection, and mercy that God graciously provides for us through our relationship with Him as our personal father. God is the greatest Father of all. He is perfect fatherhood.

We are so amazingly and unbelievably privileged to always address Him each time we pray as “Our Father” or even better, “My Father which art in heaven.”

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Painting by Terri Meyer (watercolor). The artist describes the painting: “My grandson melted into my father's arms.”

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THE ASCENDED PLACE

GodSeatedUsMen, just as Moses took his position on a hill overlooking the battle that was raging between the sons of light and the sons of darkness, so we must also, by faith, take up our position in Christ who has ascended into the hill of the Lord on our behalf. This hill of the Lord into which Jesus Christ has ascended is the highest position of all.

Ephesians 4:10 sates: “He that descended is the same also that ASCENDED UP FAR ABOVE ALL heavens that he might fill all things.”

When it comes to prevailing prayer and seeing our prayers answered, it is important for us to see ourselves seated together with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). This enables our faith to rise and become strong because it is not based on our righteousness, but on His righteousness.

Psalm 24:3: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?"

When we look at all the moral and ethical qualifications listed in the following verses in Psalm 24, we could easily shrink back into our own hopeless despair. However, we have the amazing truth that through identification with Christ Jesus, we have the privilege of being not only welcomed up into the holy hill (heavenly places), but we are given a front seat!

In fact, even more than front seat. We are given a governing seat in Christ at the right hand of the almighty throne of God.

Psalm 15:1-5 also speaks of the righteous qualifications of those who can dwell in God’s holy hill.

We Christian men but not view ourselves apart from Christ-worthiness. This is where we so often fail to see our prayers answered. We must appropriate our ascended position in Christ.

From our position of being ascended and seated at the Father’s right hand of total and complete power, we dare not plead our own name. God has given Jesus a name which is above every name and at the mention of this name “every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10,11).

This name has been given to us to plead in the place of our own unworthy name.

1 Corinthians 1:30: “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

Colossians 2:10: “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.”

Teach Your families these truths so they can have their prayers answered.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

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LET’S THANK GOD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS

AllOurHeartsMen, what appears to be happening very quickly in this Trump administration is huge and amazing. We should be most grateful to God for all that happened in this first week. All federal funding for Planned Parenthood has been abolished. Thank, Lord! We must continue to pray that abortion will be completely overturned.

The Trans Pacific Partnership has been overturned, making it better for the United States to negotiate their own deals with nations individually.

Obama Care, with all its liberal agenda and unaffordable costs is in the process of being repealed and overturned.

Immigration, designed to stop easy access and illegal entry of terrorists through porous borders is being put into effect as we speak. About time!

So many things are changing for good, almost daily. I think It is hard for the media to get focused on any one thing, for as soon as they do, there is immediately more ground-breaking, earth-shattering news that freaks out the liberal media and makes them increasingly dumbfounded. The Lord is indeed giving us a window of opportunity to push back the forces of darkness and to advance the kingdom of righteousness.

We must be watchful and pray like we never have before. We must pray that . . .


• God will continue to give our president great favor, coupled with much wisdom, and understanding.
• Pray that he will continue to have the strength and stamina that will enable him to stay the course.
• Pray that he will not flag in his zeal for good, righteous government.
• Pray that all those he has chosen to govern in all areas of his administration will do their job well and with honor.
• Pray that all their marriages and families will be kept strong so the enemy will not be given any opportunity for slander.
• Pray that none will compromise in any matter of morality or ethics.

Be encouraged.

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