Go to the following link:
http://aboverubies.org/…/2324-family-meal-table-make-memori…
Painting by Polina Luchanova
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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.
Strengthening Families Across the World through the encouragement of women in their high calling from God as wives, mothers and homemakers.
What does it mean to be a friend? The dictionary says that a friend is “a person whom one knows and with whom one has a bond of mutual affection.” We love to spend time with a friend, don’t we? Because our husband is our best friend, we’d love to spend all our time with him, if we could. Some of the synonyms for friend are companion, soul mate, familiar, intimate.”
A question: Are you friends with the Bible? Do you know it like you know you best friend? Is it your soul mate? Or are you a stranger to it. Yes, you consider yourself a Bible believing Christian, but how well do you know it?
What about your children? Do you teach them to be friends with the Bible?
God says in Hosea 8:12: “I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a STRANGE THING.” God has written great things to us. Beautiful things. All we need to live this life at every moment and in every situation. And yet we are often very unfamiliar with what He says. We don’t live in the fullness of our salvation because we don’t know all that God has provided for us.
I remember a fellow New Zealand friend of mine telling me about her brother in New Zealand. He purchased some land that he thought would enable him to provide for his family. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to provide and so he just used it for a hobby farm. After about ten years he decided to sell. At this time he discovered he owned more land than he thought—land that was fertile and lush and would have provided totally for his family. He missed out because he didn’t know he owned it!
My heart is often grieved when I find so many Christian young people are not familiar with God’s Word. They know more about sports and movie stars than they know of God’s Word. They have been brought up in the church, even home-schooled, but they are not BEST FRIENDS with God’s Word.
Dear mother, we pave the way. Is God’s Word your best friend? You can’t go without it. You’ve just got to get it into your soul. It’s your life and sustenance. You love spending time in it. It’s only when God’s Word is your best friend that you can introduce this best friend to your children—a best friend they can have for life.
Blessings today from Nancy Campbell
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Sometimes your life feels overwhelmed with problems. You are constantly sighing and complaining. Dear mother, stop for a moment, and start counting your blessings. Praise the Lord for each one. Start with the little ones you take for granted. And keep going.
Never forget to thank Christ for His wonderful and eternal salvation that He has given us. I love to thank Him every morning and every evening as we pray together as a family. I never want to let a day go by when I don’t thank Him for His death upon the cross for me.
And of course, don’t forget each of your precious children. Each one is a very special blessing. I notice that when I receive Christmas cards from friends and family that many send them with pictures of their family. They don’t send Christmas cards with pictures of their home, their car, or any of their material possessions. They proudly display the children God has given them. They are our GREATEST BLESSINGS!
Thank God for every blessing today.
Love from Nancy
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Did you know that Arab refugees in Israel only began identifying themselves as part of a Palestinian people in 1967, nearly twenty years after the establishment of the modern State of Israel?
Did you know that the Jews have had a continuous presence in the land of Israel for well over 3,000 years?
Did you know that Jerusalem is mentioned over 800 times in Bible, but not once in Koran?
Jews pray facing Jerusalem, but did you know that Muslims pray with their backs toward Jerusalem?
King David founded the city of Jerusalem, but did you know that Mohammed never came to Jerusalem? And what does the Bible say about King David’s reign in Jerusalem which is the forerunner of Jesus’ reign forever and ever? Look up: Psalm 89:4, 29, 34-37; Isaiah 9:6, 7; 24:23; Jeremiah 33:14-22; Micah 4:7; Luke 1:32, 33; and Hebrews 1:8.
Here’s a link for more information: http://www.targetofopportunity.com/palestinian_truth.htm
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The Bible speaks about “the time of life” which relates to us as women. Every month we are blessed with a “time of life.” It is the time of ovulation during our monthly cycle, which can last from five to seven days. This is the time of the month when we can conceive; when we are able to receive life from God.
We read about this in Genesis 18:10 where God says to Abraham: “I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son.”
We know of course that Sarah was past the time of childbearing. She didn’t believe that such a thing could happen and so God speaks again the second time! Verse 14 says: “Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son” (verse 14).
I believe that God restored Sarah’s cycle so that she could ovulate again and therefore God was able to come and visit her during her “time of life.”
Our “time of life” is also a time of “visitation” from God. We read again about Sarah’s conceiving in Genesis 21:1, 2: “And the Lord VISITED Sarah as he had said and the LORD did unto Sarah AS HE HAD SPOKEN (in Genesis 18:10, 14). For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”
We read also of God visiting Hannah and giving her children. After Hannah had taken Samuel to live at the temple because she had dedicated him to the Lord, 1 Samuel 2:21 says: “And the LORD VISITED Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters.” She was blessed with five more visitations of God. You can also read another story about the “time of life” in 2 Kings 4:16,17.
What a privilege to be visited by God. A responsibility too. Understanding this truth makes clear what we are actually doing when we choose a plan to stop life during the time of ovulation. We refuse a visitation of God. We thwart the sovereign plans of Almighty God. We say No to life instead of Yes. And when we stop one conception, it is not only one baby, but a dynasty to come!
Love and blessings to you today,
Nancy Campbell
The painting: “The Wait and the Reward” by Anna Rose Bain
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Dear mother, you are in the greatest building program in the nation--building strong, godly marriages and families. Proverbs 16:14 reminds us that we are builders: “Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.”
Building a godly family in this deceived and evil age is not for wimps. We passionately desire to build godly families who walk in holiness and the fear of the Lord. We want our homes to be sanctuaries filled with the divine presence of God. But the enemy lurks around waiting to knock us out. Waiting for opportunities to subtly come into our home and influence our children with deception and temptations.
Therefore, it is not enough to build. We must be on the lookout. We must guard our home on every front.
When Nehemiah came back to build up the walls of Jerusalem and the gates that were burned down, the enemy tried every way to thwart his plans. He didn’t want the walls of Jerusalem to be built up. Nor does he want you to build a godly family and train children who know how to destroy his works (1 John 3:8). He doesn’t want your walls to be strong to guard against his intrusions. He constantly lurks around waiting to attack with his deceptions and temptations.
What did Nehemiah do when their enemies surrounded them? He encouraged the Jews to keep building with one hand and have their weapon ready to use with the other hand. Nehemiah 4:16-18 (ESV) says: “Half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail . . . Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built.”
Never give up building, Mother. But also beware of the devil’s devices. Put on your armor (Ephesians 6:10-18). Build with one hand and hold your weapons in your other hand. Make sure your sword is strapped to your side. Keep God’s Word in your heart and mouth, ready to resist the enemy and send him kicking. Jesus pushed back the enemy with the Word of the Lord which is the sword of the Spirit. Every time the devil came to tempt him, He said, “It is written” (Matthew 4:1-11). You can push back the enemy the same way Jesus did.
Be encouraged today,
Nancy Campbell
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“Every Christian home should have established within it a family altar made of the solid rocks of resolution, an altar whose foundation should be memorization and understanding of God’s law.”
~ The Evidence Bible, Compiled by Ray Comfort
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I believe it is important to cultivate a “turning attitude.” God wants us to turn our hearts to Him. This morning I read Hosea 12:6: “Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgement, and wait on thy God continually.”
How do we turn to the Lord? It’s not just one turning and that’s it. It’s a habit of continually turning to the Lord in every situation and every moment of the day. This should not only become our lifestyle, but the lifestyle we teach to our children.
• Turning to God in thankfulness for all the good things He does for us and the little blessings of each day. Noticing and acknowledging God for a kind word, smiles from our children, a hug from our husband, the provision of food, a beautiful bird we notice in a tree and so on.
• Turning in repentance when we sin, have a wrong attitude, speak angrily, or whatever. Keeping a soft heart to constantly turn back to the Lord is the same as repentance. Repentance is not only being sorry for our sin, but turning in the opposite direction to follow God’s ways.
• Turning to God’s Word. If our days are full and busy with children and responsibilities, we can place a copy of the Bible on the windowsill in the kitchen, in the bathroom, where you nurse the baby, etc.
• Turning to righteousness. Not sitting on the fence, but turning towards God’s way which is always holiness.
• Turning away from evil, but more than that. Turning away from that which may be permissible, but which is not profitable, and turning to that which is profitable and will last for eternity.
• Turning from the negative to the positive.
• Turning from discouragement and despondency to thankfulness and gratefulness.
• Turning from walking in the flesh to walking in the Spirit.
• Turing from conforming to the pattern of this world and instead fixing our hearts on the real world which is the eternal world.
• Turning our attention to the needs of others instead of only thinking of ourselves.
• Turning from our puny thoughts and understanding to God’s thoughts and ways, which are higher than our ways.
• Turning our hearts to our home and children instead of the passing glory of careers and outside activities.
You may like to print this out and pin it up in your kitchen.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
TURN YOUR EYES UPON JESUS
LOOK FULL IN HIS WONDERFUL FACE
AND THE THINGS OF EARTH WILL GROW STRANGELY DIM
IN THE LIGHT OF HIS GLORY AND GRACE.
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Apart from our main Above Rubies base in USA, we have 15 other bases for Above Rubies around the world. Our previous Director for Above Rubies in South Africa, lovely Linnie Lues has now retired. Therefore I'd love to introduce to you our new Director in South Africa, Chamonix Boland. Chamonix writes:
Dear Above Rubies readers and precious mothers,
It is a true honor and great excitement that I sit down to write to you.
As a teenage girl and young adult I would wait with great expectation and anticipation for the next issue of Above Rubies due in the mail any day. The first thing I would do was to read Linnie’s newsletter. How I admired her family. And then I would read each story in the magazine with such longing for my motherhood journey to begin.
I have always wanted to be a mommy. From a very young age that is all I can remember ever wanting--to have sweet babies. It is such a joy, such a blessing, and oh what a privilege. But it is also a great responsibility and is challenging at times. That’s why I treasure Above Rubies even more than ever. Each encouraging word and article breathes new life, hope, and enthusiasm into my motherhood journey.
I feel honored to be a part of this ministry to the mothers and families in South Africa and surrounds.
I am a homeschooled girl. My dear mother is Martie du Plessis from “Dymanis.” For those of you that don’t know, Dynamis is a ministry that empowers families and helps parents that would like to home educate their children. My mom and I began this journey many years ago, and we traveled through South Africa on a regular basis. I continued my home schooling, learning, serving, and growing while my mom assisted families. God is always at work, connecting people for His purposes! This is how we met Linnie Lues and her family.
I am a passionate lover of horses and am blessed with 16 beautiful four-legged babies and married to a cattle farmer, my strong and steady Justin Boland. We live in the beautiful highland mountains bordering Lesotho in the Eastern Free State, just outside Clarens.
I married young at 21 in 2008 and God blessed us with babies soon after--Nicholas-Christion (7), Evangeline-Faythe (6), Caleb-Eathen (4), Maia-Hope (2) and Benjamin-Fergus (1). And hoping for more! I have had beautiful births, the first three in hospital and the last two were home water births with my dear midwife Sue King, although our Benjamin was unplanned unassisted.
I am passionate about Child Birth, Labour, and Breast Feeding and passionate about assisting mothers emotionally with their birth and nursing journey, either as a doula or with Lamaze breathing, focus, and relaxation techniques. I follow Le Leche League breast feeding guidelines when assisting lactating mothers. This is a passion I choose to share with other mommies because it is such a blessing to birth powerfully and nurse well. It marks the first on your journey as mother, to submit your body as a sacrifice to God through carrying, birthing, and nursing His children with joy and gladness!
We also assist on Justin’s family Guest farm, “Sunnyside Guest Farm,” with everyday mundane running of the business tasks, maintenance, and reservations as well as help look after Justin’s Granny (86) who runs the guest farm and lives on the property.
We home school our little blessings, although they mostly just live life with us, sharing in our many daily tasks pertaining to farm and guest farm life, working alongside us, serving their family and others. Now they too will share in this marvelous Above Rubies journey that can encourage and bless others and impact future generations of mothers and fathers!
We look forward to this special journey with you, and as Linnie says, become partners with you in Above Rubies SA as we join hands to keep Above Rubies coming to South Africa!
CHAMONIX BOLAND
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.aboverubies.co.za
Cell: 083 740 3827 (signal on the farm such a problem so when trying to get hold of me, a text message or whatsapp may be a better option).
And now Chamonix has five happy children!
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Yes, you can. Not in your own strength but by the power of the Holy Spirit.
How do we raise godly children in an evil world? The Bible gives us many examples. Moses was taught to worship the pagan gods of Egypt. For nearly 40 years he lived in luxury and all the worldliness of Egypt. History tells us that he would have been raised in the royal harem along with other children of royal blood and trained to become one of the high-ranking nobles of the land (or maybe even a Pharaoh). And yet the Bible tells that Moses "refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt" (Hebrews 11:24-27).
The early years he spent with his mother (three to five years), as she nursed him from her breast and daily instilled him with the knowledge of the God of Israel influenced his future life. Such is the power of a mother.
Joseph, who became next to the Pharaoh of Egypt in power, married the daughter of the priest of On (one of the most influential and noble families in Egypt) who led the people in worshipping pagan gods. And yet, in the midst of idol worship, wealth, fame, and prosperity, he never forgot his family and his God--the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
His final destiny was not in Egypt, but with the people of God. When dying, Joseph took an oath saying, "God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence" (Genesis 50:24, 25). He did not want to be left in Egypt but wanted his bones to be buried in the Promised Land with his people.
With corruption and violence all around him, Noah raised children who refused to succumb to wickedness (Genesis 6:9-13 and Hebrews 11:7).
We are also raising children and grandchildren in the midst of deception, evil, and corruption where abortion is considered normal and homosexuality is promoted as a "normal" lifestyle. Judgment is turned backward and justice stands afar off (Isaiah 59:13-15). But as you seek God for the anointing of His Holy Spirit to mother and train your children, to daily fill them with God's Word, and to pray fervently for them, you can also raise righteous young men and women who will not be lured by the deceptions of the father of lies. You can train godly children who will not be tempted by the gods of this world, but will stand true to the God of the Bible.
Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell
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As Moses wielded his humble rod before Pharaoh, he received resistance, ridicule, and rejection. Yet in spite of this mockery and derision, he wrought mighty miracles--some of the most outstanding miracles the world has ever seen.
As you embrace motherhood and give your life to nurture and train the precious children God gives to you, you often receive resistance and ridicule too. “What are you doing staying home with your children when yo could be out in your career?”
Be encouraged. Your rod of motherhood may seem insignificant, but it produces great miracles. The career of motherhood is full of miracles. Every child God gives to you is a divine miracle. There never has been another child like your child in the history of the world, and there will never be another one like him or her again. Your child is a unique miracle, divinely created by the hand of God for specific purpose that none other will ever do. Your children are “for signs and wonders . . . from the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 8:18).
Every day God gives you miracles of His wisdom, guidance, and protection as you mother your children. You may not even be aware of all the times God compassionately sends His ministering angels to save your children from disaster. I acknowledge that my children and grandchildren are only alive by the miraculous protection of God.
You have not yet seen all the great things God is yet to do through your children to bring salvation to people and to reveal God's image in the earth. At the beginning of my motherhood I could not have even dreamed of how God is using our children today.
Sometimes we have to take our head out of the sand to see the miracles. Don't miss them. Thank God for them.
Take hold of your rod of motherhood--your humble, but miraculous rod! Don't run from it. Embrace it. Wield it for the glory of God as you impact this earth and the eternal world. Amen!
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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It’s amazing, isn’t it, to look out on a New Year that unfolds before us? We have no idea what it will hold. We ourselves enjoyed blessings and extreme challenges last year. What will we face this year? How wonderful that we can face each new day with absolute trust in our Heavenly Father.
No matter what happens we belong to an everlasting kingdom, a kingdom that WILL NEVER END! If we could truly grasp this truth, we would not be rocked by whatever experiences we face. God promises that no matter what is shaken that we belong to a “kingdom which cannot be moved” (Hebrews 12:28).
Daniel reminds us in Daniel 7:14 that God’s “dominion is an EVERLASTING DOMINION WHICH SHALL NOT PASS AWAY, AND HIS KINGDOM THAT WHICH SHALL NOT BE DESTROYED.”
Daniel 7:18 says: “But the saints of the Highest shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, EVEN FOREVER AND EVER.”
The angel told Mary that the Son who would be born form her would “reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom THERE SHALL BE NO END” (Luke 1:33).
Not only do we belong to an everlasting and unshakeable kingdom, but every word of God is also eternal and will last forever. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:25 states: “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words SHALL NOT PASS AWAY.”
Truly we are only sojourners here, looking “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10). Kingdoms on this earth come and go, but we belong to a kingdom that will never end. Let’s live our lives in the light of this truth. Let’s teach our children to live in the experience of this truth. We dare not let them become rooted in this world. We must teach them that they are only pilgrims here and that the real world is the eternal world.
Have a beautiful day,
Nancy Campbell
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I'm a little behind in birthdays this week. It's hard to believe that my little baby, Serene Charis was 40 years old this last week--4th January. Notice the thick flannel "nappies" we used in those days. No disposable diapers then! I folded them on the baby and fastened them with a safety pin. And then washed them each day and hung them out on the line. It was lovely to have the sun naturally disinfect and bleach the "nappies." What an amazing blessing Serene has been to Colin and me, to her beautiful family, and to the whole world! How many more thousands and thousands will yet be impacted by her life?
~ Nancy
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Where do you go when you need help and support? Where do you go when you don't understand why you experience hardships and problems? We usually resort to people for help, but the Bible tells us the ultimate source--the SANCTUARY.
Psalm 20:2 (ESV) says: "May he send you help from the SANCTUARY and give you support from Zion." The sanctuary speaks of God's divine presence. In Old Testament days God dwelt in the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. Today we have direct access into His presence through the blood of Jesus. Let's get into the habit of going directly to Him for our strength and support--spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
We must do this individually, but we must also do it corporately as a family. We must lead our children to the Sanctuary. We must lead our children to the family altar each morning and evening. This is where they also find God's strength to fight the battles in this life.
Sometimes you feel confused and even in despair at what is happening in your life. You can't understand why you have financial problems and difficulties and yet everything seems “dinky dory” for those who don't walk with the Lord. The psalmist wondered about this too until he went into the SANCTUARY. It's in the sanctuary that we see the eternal picture.
Psalm 73:16, 17 says: "When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; until I went into the SANCTUARY OF GOD; then understood I their end."
When you go into the Sanctuary you will find your answers for God's way is in the SANCTUARY (Psalm 77:13).
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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How does God want us to live in this deceived and evil world? What should our lives look like to the people around us? What kind of a testimony should we have in our speech, conduct, and dress? As I thought about the answers to these questions recently, I was amazed how abundantly God shows us the way. He does not leave us in the dark. I found so many ways God has given us, but thought fifty would be enough for you for a start!
In the following Scriptures God shows us clearly how He wants us to live.
1. Abounding in thanksgiving (Colossians 2:7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
2. Abounding in the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). Of course, motherhood is the greatest work God has given to us. Let’s abound in it!
3. Blamelessly (Philippians 2:15).
4. Conforming to the image of God's Son (Romans 8:29)
5. Earnestly contending for the faith (Jude 1:3).
6. Doing everything in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).
7. Fighting the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12).
8. Filled with the knowledge of God's will (Colossians 1:9).
9. Filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
10. Forgetting those things which are behind (Philippians 3:13).
11. Forgiving one another (Colossians 3:13 and Ephesians 4:32).
12. Given to hospitality (Romans 12:13 and 1 Timothy 5:10).
13. Glorifying God in our body and spirit (1 Corinthians 6:20 and 10:31).
14. Glorying in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14).
15. Holding faith and a good conscience (1 Timothy 1:19).
16. Holding fast our confession without wavering (Hebrews 10:23).
17. Holding forth the word of life (Philippians 2:16).
18. Holily (1 Thessalonians 2:10 and Titus 3:5).
19. Honestly (1 Thessalonians 4:12).
20. Humbly (Micah 6:8; Colossians 3:12; James 4:10; and 1 Peter 5:6).
21. Increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).
22. Justly (Micha 6:8 and 1 Thessalonians 2:10).
23. Keeping His commandments (John 14:15, 21, 23; 15:14; and 1 John 5:3).
24. Keeping myself in the love of God (Jude 1:21).
25. Laying down my life for the brethren (1 John 3:16).
26. Looking for His coming (Titus 2:13).
27. Lovingly (John 13:34, 35; 15:12, 17; Romans 12:10; 13:8; Galatians 5:22; and 1 John 4:7).
28. Meekly (Matthew 5:5; Galatians 5:23; and 1 Peter 3:4).
29. Patiently (Romans 12:12).
30. Purely (1 Timothy 5:22 and Titus 2:14).
31. Reaching forth for the prize of the high calling of God (Philippians 2:13, 14).
32. Rejoicing always (Romans 12:12 and Philippians 4:4).
33. Pleasing God in all things (Colossians 1:10).
34. Putting on the new man (Colossians 3:10, 12).
35. Praying continually (Romans 12:12; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; and Jude 1:20).
36. Presenting my body a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1).
37. Redeeming the time (Ephesians 5:16 and Colossians 4:5).
38. Renewing my mind (Romans 12. 2).
39. Righteously (Ephesians 4:24; 1 Timothy 6:11; and Titus 2:12).
40. Richly filled with God's Word (Colossians 3:16).
41. Separately (2 Corinthians 6:17).
42. Setting my affection on things above (Colossians 3:1, 2).
43. Shining like stars in this dark world (Philippians 2:15).
44. Soberly (Titus 2:12).
45. Speaking with grace and truth (John 1: 17 and Colossians 4:6).
46. Unblameably (Colossians 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 2:10; and 3:13).
47. Walking in light (1 Thessalonians 5:5, 6 and 1 John 1:7).
48. Walking in wisdom (Colossians 4:5).
49. Without spot (Ephesians 5:27 and 1 Timothy 6:14).
50. Worthily (Ephesians 4:1; 2 and 2 Thessalonians 1:11).
You can also teach your children the above ways God wants us to walk in this world.
Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell
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Isn't it the most boring thing in the world to get into a rut? You're stuck. You're going nowhere. This often happens in our marriage relationship. We go from day to day in the same old fashion. We are quite happy with one another and there are no problems. But there's no spice.
Sometimes we need to stir ourselves out of the rut. The good thing is that you don't have to stay in the same old routine. Nothing ever happens without making it happen, but you can start to make it happen. Hebrews 10:24 (TLB) says: “LET US OUTDO each other in being helpful and kind to each other.”
I am sure you tell your husband every day that you love him. Even this can be a rut. Can you think of more exciting ways to remind him that you love him? Don't say it once a day--perhaps ten times a day and in all different ways. Prepare his favorite meals. Do and say loving and kind things to him that you never have before.
OUTDO ONE ANOTHER. If he is especially loving to you, find a way to be even more loving back to him.
Begin this fun stimulating one another to love and good deeds among your whole family. Encourage the children to be competitive in showing love and doing nice things to their brothers and sisters.
Can you imagine the change of attitude in your marriage and family life?
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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I love discovering the rhetorical questions in the Bible. We read in our Bible reading this morning, “Who teacheth like him?” (Job 36:22). Of course, there is none who teaches like God. All wisdom, understanding, and knowledge comes from Him.
Do we believe this? If so, we’ll listen to His Word which is true from the beginning before we listen to the nice-sounding wisdom of man. God laughs at man’s wisdom. And yet how easily we listen to the voices all around us. What everyone else is saying? What everyone else believes. We don’t like to be different.
Romans 3:4 always challenge me: “Let God be true, but every man a liar.” Am I prepared to listen to God even when it is different to what everyone else thinks?
As we begin this year of 2017, let’s press in to hear God’s truth. Let’s not be conditioned by the secular worldview all around us. Psalm 119:89 tells us that God’s word is “settled in heaven.” It was purified in the fire seven times before we ever received it (Psalm 12:6). It should therefore be settled in our hearts too.
As mothers, we have a responsibility to know the truth. We have been given the mandate to pass on truth to our children (Proverbs 6:20-23). What are we passing on? The general belief of everyone around us? What everyone else does? Or do we seek to know God’s eternal truth to pass on to our children, our grandchildren, and future generations?
There is no greater teacher than God and His infallible Word. Let’s make His Word the plumbline of everything we believe, even if it is contrary to society around us.
When Jesus took Peter, James, and John up into the mountain, He was transfigured before them and Moses and Elijah also appeared and talked with Him. Peter, impetuous as ever, said, “Lord, let’s make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But while he spoke, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; HEAR YE HIM” (Matthew 17:1-8).
Who are you listening to? Who are your children listening to?
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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I look back on last year with overwhelming thankfulness for God’s great faithfulness and goodness to us.
The greatest blessings, of course, are the joys of family life. I remember my children asking me when they were younger, “What was your favorite time of motherhood?” I answered that I loved it when they were little babies. How I loved those precious times and they passed far too quickly.
But I have enjoyed every season of motherhood. My husband and I are now in a season of reaping the blessings of our years together (our 54th wedding anniversary coming in March). This year we enjoyed three family weddings (Arden and Esther, Meadow and Kendall, and Josiah and Shelby) and one engagement (Bowen and Kahoru) who will be married in May. That’s another wedding already planned for this coming year and we secretly hope there will be more. I love weddings!
And from weddings come babies. We were blessed with a new grandson this year (Canaan) and three great-grandbabies (Ezzie, Kyrah, and Lilliana). And we pray that God will pour out His blessings upon us and bless us with more great-grandbabies this year! Every child, grandchild, and great-grandchild is another opportunity for God to reveal His image in the world; to proclaim His love and salvation to a hurting world; and to reveal His truth to a deceived world. There’s no more powerful thing that we can do than bring life into the world, for each new life is not only for this world, but for the eternal world!
I love the words in John 1:9 where it tells us that “Jesus was the true Light, which lighteth every man than cometh into the world.” I believe that every new baby is born with a God consciousness, the light of God in their spirit. What a privilege to be born into a godly home where that light can be fueled to a great flame for the glory of God. Conversely, children born into unbelieving homes can have this light squashed and dampened. But it is always there and the Holy Spirit’s power can ignite that light again by His moving in the heart.
We also faced great challenges this past year, but they were times of drawing closer to the presence of God. Arden (Serene’s son) was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma shortly after his wedding in February. The whole family joined him in the fight of faith as we faced this battle. In his most crucial and desperate times we met every consecutive night for 13 weeks to pray for him—often over 30 of the family members praying around him each night. God is so good and has brought him from the depths (where we did not look at what we could see by the natural eye but hung on to the promises of God by faith) to great health. We still wait for the final test, but rejoice in seeing him look so well and healthy.
During this battle, Serene’s 20-year-old son, Isaiah had a traumatic accident with brain trauma. It took two hours to extract him from the car and his ear was also severed off. They neurosurgeon said he would never come out of a nursing home, but as we prayed and sought God we saw another deliverance. Isaiah is a walking miracle and a joy to us all. He has come into a greater place in God and the joy of life. He laughs all the time. He is such a tonic to have in the family. In fact, about three weeks ago, Isaiah, Colin, and I all got the ‘flu. Isaiah was over his in two days. Colin and I are still struggling! I think it is because he laughs so much!
Now we begin a New Year. I pray God’s blessings upon you and your family. May we all come increasingly into the light of God. May we all come increasingly out of the shadows into His glorious light. And may we also come out of shallowness into the depths of God’s love and truth. I hate the shallow places, don’t you? I long for the depths. I long to know God more. I long for more and more revelation of His truth and understanding of His plan for us. I long to be like the children of Issachar who Had “understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32). How we need true discernment in this hour of deception. This is my personal prayer and my prayer for you too.
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth MORE AND MORE unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).
A blessed New Year to you.
Nancy Campbell
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AN IMPORTANT POST FOR ALL PARENTS TO READ!
Apart from the official Hanukkah celebration which we finish celebrating today, we read about a number of dedication celebrations in God's Word.
1) Dedicating the tabernacle for 12 days. Each prince of Israel dedicated the altar for a day each (Number 7:10-11, 84, 88). This was the first dedication we read about.
2) Dedicating a new house (Deuteronomy 20:5). It is biblical to dedicate a new house.
3) Dedicating Solomon's temple which he built for the Lord (1 Kings 8:62 and 2 Chronicles 7:5, 9).
4) Dedicating the rebuilt temple when they came back from Babylon--Zerubbabel's temple (Ezra 6:16).
5) Dedicating the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 12:27).
And there is one more! You'll never guess!
It is found in Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The word "train" is "hanuk," the verb of hanukkah, meaning "to initiate, dedicate, consecrate." It is not enough to celebrate Hanukkah for eight days. As parents, we are FULLTIME HANUKKAH CELEBRATORS!
When we realize that training our children means to dedicate them to the Lord, it gives us a much larger and loftier vision. Everything we do and plan for our children should be done in the light of dedicating our them to the Lord and setting them apart for His service. It's not a one-time dedication. It is a verb which requires daily action.
When our children are disobedient or don't complete what we have asked them to, we can sometimes be lazy and let it go. But not if we understand we are daily dedicating them to the Lord. How can we let things go when we consecrating them to God's holy service? We have the responsibility to train them to obedient so they will be obedient to the Lord!
As children get older, they can become more worldly and want to do what other worldly teens are doing. We could think, "Oh that's the stage they are going through." But not if we understand that we are daily consecrating them to the Lord. We will pray up a storm. We will fight the devil. We will work with our children to keep them on the narrow road that leads to life. We will do everything to save them from the broad road that leads to destruction. WE ARE PROVERBS 22:6 HANUKKAH PARENTS!
When we "hanuk" our children, it determines how we educate our children. It would be ludicrous to send our children into an ungodly education system each day if we are daily consecrating them for God's purposes.
As we consecrate our children to the Lord, we recognize that they totally belong to the Lord for whatever time God has for them on this earth. Above everything else, we know that we are ultimately preparing them for eternity.
Blessings from NANCY CAMPBELL
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