Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

“Our daily devotions are the most needful of our daily works, and the most pleasant of our daily comforts. Prayer time must be kept up as duly as mealtime.”

~ Matthew Henry

“If the incense of prayer is to glow all day, it has to be renewed and kindled daily. The modern talk about being independent of times and seasons, so not needing definite periods of worship, is worse than rubbish. No man will have reverence diffused through his life, unless he has a consecrated reservoir of worship in the background of his life.”

~ Alexander MacLaren

The following are the qualities of a man who would lead the church of God. However, they should also be the qualities of all men, especially husbands and fathers. Each one of us have our own little church, our family. God shows us the way to lead our families. Let’s check list our lives against God’s Word:

“He must be a man whom no one can criticize. He must be the faithful husband of one wife. He must be abstemious, wise in the art of living, with an ordered beauty in his life.

He must be hospitably inclined and he must be skilled in teaching. He must not be too fond of wine. He must be gentle and not pugnacious. He must be peaceable and money must have no attraction for him.

He must preside well over his own family, with children who give him complete obedience and perfect respect. If a man does not know how to preside over his own household, how can he look after one of God’s congregations?

He must not be a new convert, in case he should become inflated with a sense of his own importance, and so incur the same judgment that was passed on the devil for his pride.

He must have a good reputation among those who are not members of the church, for he must never incur the risk of making himself a target for abuse, and he must never pride ammunition for the slanderer” (1 Timothy 3:1-7 William Barclay translation).

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

God reveals His glory in the fact that He is abundant in truth (Exodus 324:6). God is full of truth and He never holds it back from those who really want it.

John 8:32 says: “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

God’s abundant goodness is His glory that He revealed to Moses, but also to us. (Exodus 34:6). God’s goodness toward us is lavish. God does not give sparingly, but exceedingly and generously.

Annie J. Flint writes:
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

God’s glory is revealed in His longsuffering (Exodus 34:6).

Psalm 86:5: “But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.”

God’s glory is revealed in His graciousness (Exodus 34:6). The Hebrew word “gracious” means “to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior, to favor, to bestow.”

The graciousness of our God is amazing and beautiful because He stooped and bent down so far to save us. In fact, He humbled Himself and stooped all the way down from the heights of heaven to the old rugged cross in order to save us from our sins and lift us up into heavenly places with Him.

How do you arrive home to your family? Like a wet blanket with a frown and a gruff voice? Or do you bring joy and happiness to your family the moment you arrive home? Come home with surprises. Come in with an encouraging word and a smile for everyone. What a difference you can make to your wife who has been home with the children all day! Let your wife and children anticipate your homecoming with joy and excitement.

~ Colin Campbell

Exodus 34:6: “And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.”

We have written about knowing God in the last two posts. We now see in this scripture that God’s glory is revealed in His mercifulness, or we could say, fullness of mercy. Where would we be if I wasn’t for His mercy?

Men, even though God answered Moses’ request to show him His glory, he was only allowed to see God’s back parts for God said, “There shall no man see me, and live” (Exodus 33:20). The actual seeing of God’s rear or back parts would have been very special to Moses. However, I am sure that when God proclaimed who He was in the essence of His character that this would have meant far more to Moses than anything else.

Moses realized that the full revelation of the goodness of God’s character would take more than a life time to comprehend. God’s glory cannot be limited to a moment of time. It will take the ages to come for God to show us “the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).

Today we begin a new series, THE GLORY OF GOD’S NAME

TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE LORD IS TO KNOW HIS GLORY
We read in Exodus 33:18 that Moses BESEECHED God to “Show me thy glory.”

Men, today we must continue to pray earnestly for the voters in the states of Hawaii, Idaho, Michigan, and Mississippi. Pray earnestly as people vote in each of these states that God, in His great mercy, will give Ted Cruz great favor. He is the most conservative, God-fearing, Bible-loving, constitution-upholding, and uncompromising candidate. This country desperately needs someone like this at this time.

~ Colin

Proverbs 10:19: “In the multitude of words there wanted not sin: but he that refrains his lips is wise.”

The doctrine of Donald Trump is “flexibility.” During the No. 11 debate last night in Detroit, Donald Trump made it clear that he believed that it was okay to be flexible and change your mind, no matter what you may have said or believed in the past. Wow, I thought that this is what had made the people of America so angry. They want politicians who won’t change their minds.

Isaiah 28:5, 6 says: “In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, And for a spirit of judgment to him that sitteth in judgment, and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate.”

Washington DC is the gateway of this nation. We must fervently pray for the coming president to be a truly godly man, not just one who says he is a Christian. Jesus said in Matthew 7:16: “Ye shall know them by their fruits.”

Because Donald Trump is doing so well in the primaries, there is now a great concern, to the point of a great divide among the Republican establishment. Many may think this is a good thing because the GOP needs to be shaken up. This of course if true. However, because of Trump’s past record, he proves himself to be more a liberal democrat than a conservative republican. He most definitely is not a conservative. Check the following:

1. Many fear that he will turn Obama Care into a single payer system wholly supported by the government. This of course is what Obama wanted in the first place.

2. Many fear that he will support Planned Parenthood because he constantly tells the public that they do “Many wonderful things for women.” But they are the biggest abortion provider in the country and even sell body parts of unborn children.

3. Many fear his foreign policy. It is one of great concern because he originally supported the Iraq policy of George W. Bush, but as the war dragged on, he took the side of the democrats and denounced it.

He professes to have a neutral stand on the Palestinian/Israel conflict. This is a dangerous stand for the protection of Israel.

4. Many fear his stand on the right to bear arms.

5. Many fear his proud stand for the gay/homosexual agenda.

6. Many fear that although he makes great boasts about building the wall between Mexico and USA, there is now a big question as to whether he will keep his word about sending illegals back home. Although this has been his big campaign speech, there are now rumors of a change of mind.

7. Many fear and have great concern as to who he would nominate to the Supreme Court to replace Judge Antonin Scalia. Since Trump himself is not a conservative and is weak on abortion, Planned Parenthood, and same sex marriage, will this affect his own judgment in this huge matter?

8. Many fear that if Donald Trump gets the nomination that many, many republicans will not vote in the final election. I am hearing more and more conservatives who say they will not vote in the final elections if Donald Trump is the nominee as he is far from a conservative. Therefore, sad to say, that would give Hilary Clinton the presidency. I myself could not in good conscience cast a vote for Donald Trump.

Although Trump is a successful business man and showman, is he any better than George Soros or Warren Buffet or a lot of the wealthy elites in the democratic party? Why is it that so many democrats are voting for Trump? Is it not because they know he is one of them at heart?

God can still turn the battle at the gate. We must pray more fervently than ever. Christians should vote according to the past fruit of a man, not only by what he says now.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

A few extra links for you to read:

http://hubpages.com/politics/A-Biblical-Response-to-Trump ( a well-researched article).

http://www.ctfamily.org/an-open-letter-to-donald-trump/

http://www.firebreathingchristian.com/archives/12093 about Jerry Falwell Jr.

http://www.courant.com/…/hc-dear-donald-trump-20160217-stor…

http://www.thedailybeast.com/…/christians-cringe-at-donald-…

Today is Super Tuesday, the biggest day of the 2016 presidential primary season. Voters in 13 states will determine the fate of our nation today: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wyoming, and American Samoa.

I have been seriously fasting and praying that the candidate who is the most conservative, the most God-fearing, and who will never negotiate with his enemies by bribes, lies, or false promises will be favored by God to win the GOP nomination.

“After serious consideration and looking over a very deep and qualified field of potential candidates, I have decided to give my support, my personal endorsement if you will, to Senator Ted Cruz. Ted has been a stalwart supporter of Israel and our people. He is one of the few leaders in the U.S. government with the intestinal fortitude to call terrorism ‘terrorism’, and directly address the threat of radical Islam and a nuclear Iran. Ted has proven to be fearless in fighting against the odds when he must, something I as the leader of a tiny nation surrounded by enemies can relate to.” He concluded, “Over the last two years Ted and I have been in regular contact, we have worked closely together on policy. To say the least, he (Cruz) has been an unwavering ally; and what’s more he’s been a true friend. I would ask the American people, and the freedom loving members of the world community to join me in supporting Ted Cruz as the next U.S President.”

"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth" (Isaiah 62:6, 7).

We continue to asks ourselves some sober questions.

3. Does the nation of Israel have a place in our foundations? And from where do our ethics and values come?

There are people who will always cry out, “Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). Many of the wealthy Jews in Europe did not believe those who told them that Hitler would try to exterminate them all if he could. They regarded those who warned of approaching danger as alarmists and doomsday extremists. Those who fled Europe by whatever means they could saved themselves, along with their families. Those who believed they would survive by continuing to stay were fed as fuel to the concentration camp oven fires and mass graves.

The main reason why we elect a new president once every four years is primarily for our own protection. However, being the rich, powerful, and blessed nation we are, with a foundation based on biblical values, we need a president who will stand with the little nation of Israel which is the cradle nation for our Judeo/Christian ethics and values.

God has blessed our so-called “Christian nation” because we have stood with Israel over the years--until this last administration. God has promised to bless those who bless Israel. God said to Abram in Genesis 12:3: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

We are almost the only nation in the whole world that has stood by Israel, but now much of the liberal press, the liberal government, and even the liberal church have been deceived by Palestinian propaganda.

Throughout the President Obama era Israel has been snubbed and threatened, especially the area of the West Bank, along with their amazing Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel is surrounded by nations that hate her with an unholy vengeance and they want to destroy her from off the face of the earth.

I believe God will remove our protection if we do not stand up for Israel’s protection. We must have a president at this time who will not force Israel to surrender any more of its ancient boundaries that were given by God’s divine mandate, and which they also won back as a result of being attacked. We cannot have a president who is pro-Palestinian because they hate Israel and want to completely destroy it.

Israel wants peace with is neighbors, but cannot afford to give them the strategic West Bank which makes them more vulnerable to attack from the heights of these mountains.

All the nations that once blessed Israel and have enjoyed great prosperity and peace had better not forsake her. If they do, they forsake their blessing. Sadly, many Christian nations have already become pro-Islam, pro-Palestinian, and anti-Israel and now their angelic defense is departed from them. Now they are under ISIS attack, plus many forms of spiritual attack.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

P.S. Have you check out this link? It is important to get your understanding from the Scriptures rather than the media: http://aboverubies.org/EverlastingPossession

Why are many young people and students voting for Bernie Sanders and his extreme socialist/communist policies? He believes that even Obama and Hilary Clinton are not far enough left in socialism and makes no apologies that he is an outright socialist. This reveals how far the USA, one of the most blessed countries of the world has, and still is, drifting away from our biblical, conservative foundations.

The other night I listened to Trump on Hannity where he stated that because he is a great deal-maker he would use his skills to try for a peace treaty between the Palestinians and Israel. He admitted that it would be a great challenge, even to him. “But I will give it one hell of a shot,” he said (Trump language!).

To be honest, this is one of the things that scares me most about Trump. We should all be aware of the natural disasters that have hit the United States of America every time we have forced Israel to give up the West Bank, which is THE HEARTLAND OF ISRAEL and includes part of Jerusalem. (Have you read the book, “As America has Done to Israel?” by John P. McTernan?)

Ezekiel, chapters 36 - 37 are prophetic promises to His people, Israel. (Take time to read these amazing chapters). They are God’s specific promises about the mountains and waste places of Israel which are all in the West Bank. They have all been prophetically promised to be restored and populated with God’s ancient people.

Will Trump seek to negotiate with Israel to give the West Bank back to the Palestinians, as if it always belonged to them? The Heartland of Israel is filled with the evidence of certain tribes of Israel living there. They also took it back by a miraculous war after they were attacked by Arab armies coming at them from strategic parts of the West Bank.

Israel needs these center of their land, firstly because it was given to them by God for an “everlasting possession,” and secondly, because when Israel controls the West Bank it lessens their vulnerability from enemy attack .

We must pray for our own sakes that America will not go against God’s will for ALL of Israel’s promised land. The United Sates of America is a big and powerful nation, but like banks and motor companies, is it too big to fail? I think not.

If we meddle with the foundations of little Israel we could find ourselves fighting against our God who is still the God of Israel! God can easily take America down from its pedestal. * **

We need a president who understands these biblical truths. Our own foundations have been seriously eroded under Obama. We must be prayerful and careful who we chose this time.

May God have mercy on us for we have become deceived by glamour and surface popularity. Foundations are meant to be deep and solid, not glitzy, showy, prideful, and deal-making. These things are just surface, building on the sand.

Be encouraged Colin Campbell

P.S. Check out this link:
http://aboverubies.org/EverlastingPossession

* Genesis 12:3; Psalm 129:5; Jeremiah 51:24; Ezekiel 25:7; 35:1-15; 36:1-7; 38:18-23; Joel 3:1, 2; Obadiah 15; and Zechariah 12:1-9.

** Our God is called THE GOD OF ISRAEL 203 times in our Bible, although He is also called THE GOD OF JACOB and many other similar names. If our God is not the God of Israel, we worship a different God from the Bible. And if He is the God of Israel, as He is, we had better have His understanding of Israel and the land.

The picture for this post is of vineyards growing on the Mount of Blessing, Har Brakha, on the West Bank of Israel. This area is where the Israelites first came into Israel when they came into the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 11:29-32). This picture is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy as these luscious and fruitful vineyards grow out of stones and barren dirt. Only according to the Word of the Lord which states in Ezekiel 36 that when God brings His people back to the land that these barren mountains will “shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come”

The picture for this post is of vineyards growing on the Mount of Blessing, Har Brakha, on the West Bank of Israel. This picture is a fulfillment of biblical prophecy as these luscious and fruitful vineyards grow out of stones and barren dirt. Only according to the Word of the Lord which states in Ezekiel 36 that when God brings His people back to the land that these barren mountains will “shoot forth your branches, and yield your fruit to my people of Israel; for they are at hand to come”

No one in their right mind would build a house on the ground without a solid foundation or the storms, floods, and severe winds would quickly destroy it.

One of the first things we do when purchasing a house that has already been built is to employ a qualified building inspector to check its foundations. Even though the house may be of the finest design, expensive trimming, superb paint work, and the surroundings look like a beautiful park; if the foundations are weak, cracked, or compromised, who would be foolish enough to purchase it?