"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Matthew 5:9).
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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.
Take time to pray for your children each day.
Do you walk in the fear of God or are you ruled by other fears that inhibit you from doing and being all that God wants you to be?
1 Peter 1:17 says: "Pass the time of your sojourning here in fear."
Matthew Henry writes: "Those who will not submit to Christ shall be as a bird that wanders from her nest, which shall be snatched up by the next bird of prey. Those who will not yield to the fear of God shall be made to yield to the fear of everything else."
To walk in the fear of God frees us from the bondage of all other fears.
~ Nancy
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A mother shared with me recently how she understands biblical truths far better when she does something tangible. It helps the truth to become part of her life.
We talked about how God talked and fellowshipped with Adam and Eve at the end of each day, “the cool of the day” (Genesis 3:8). A little breeze is beginning to blow. It’s the time of the day when we relax after the day’s work--God had already established the principle of work with them (Genesis 2:15). It’s the time of the day when we eat and fellowship together.
God still wants to come to our families at this time of the day, the time when daddy comes home from work and everyone gathers together to eat and communicate with one another. The time when God wants to specifically visit with us and be present at our table. Sadly, God waits in vain in many homes. He comes at the “cool of the day,” but no one is home. There is not even the smell of food cooking? Where is everyone? May be still battling the traffic as they come home from another extracurricular activity.
And yet God is waiting at home to be present with us at our table!
My friend decided to purchase a special plate to put at the table as they set the table for the evening meal each day. She said that this will remind her that Christ is with them as they sit together.
Christ is the head of our home,
The unseen guest at every meal,
The silent listener to every conversation.
Do you remember these lines? They graced our wall when I was child growing up and impacted my life.
Welcome Jesus to your table.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
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Are you feeling glad today? Or perhaps, you can’t find anything to feel glad about at all. Everything is going wrong.
Just a minute. If you can’t find something to be glad about, there is SOMEONE you can be glad about. We can always be glad in the Lord. Look above your problems and begin to praise the Lord. Confess who He is to you. He is your Deliverer, your closest Friend, your Joy, your High Tower, your Hiding Place, your Life, your Light, your Peace, your Strength, your Redeemer, your Rock, your Victory, and so much more. What more could you want? You have all you need in Him. Yes, you can be glad and rejoice. Forget all your dreariness and be glad in the LORD!
Let’s look at some of David’s confessions:
Psalm 68:3: “Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.”
Psalm 64:10: “The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.”
Psalm 40:16: “Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.”
Psalm 32:11 says: “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”
Psalm 9:2: “I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.” Read also Psalm 5:11; 9:2; 31:7; 70:4; and 104:34.
In all the above psalms, David expressed the tough times he faced and the innumerable evils that compassed him about. He didn’t have a lot to be glad about in the natural, but he rejoiced and was glad in the Lord. May God help us to follow his example.
The word glad is “samach” and means “to brighten up, cheer up, make merry, rejoice.” I know your circumstances may not be very bright, but you can brighten up in the Lord.
May you be lifted up in your spirits today,
Nancy Campbell
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The Holy Spirit who dwells within us, if we are born again, is called the Comforter. What a beautiful name. The Greek word “parakletos” means “to speak cheerfully, to encourage, to come alongside to help, a legal helper, an intercessor.” Read John 14:26, 15:26; and 16:7-11.
Because the Comforter dwells within us to help and cheer us up, He also wants to comfort others through us. One of the evidences of the Holy Spirit in us is that we comfort others—our husband, children, and people who are part of our lives.
What do you think of when you think of a comforter? We think of someone who is kind, compassionate, consoling, encouraging, and who lifts us up. It also means they pray and intercede for us as the Holy Spirit does. I have to ask myself: “Am I a comforter to my husband, my family, and all I meet? Each new day? “Please help me to be a loving comforter to them, dear Father.”
However, we have to be a true Holy spirit comforter, not a counterfeit comforter. Just as we learn to discern the cries of our little baby, we discern the cries of our children. Sometimes they need consoling and comforting words. Sometimes they need our prayers. Other times they cry because they feel sorry for themselves or are mad with their brother and sister. This is not a time to side with their attitude. It’s a time to lift them up to see beyond themselves and teach them that life is not all about pandering to them, but also thinking about others. It’s time to pray with them and lead them to a higher plane.
There are many adults who still have this kind of attitude. I have often seen a woman crying and another rushing up to her and putting their arm around them as soon as they cry. Sometimes this is the right thing to do. The very thing they need.
But not always. Maybe they are crying because of self-pity. “Poor me. Everyone is against me.” Maybe they are selfishly thinking of their own agenda and want people to side with their side of the story. These women also need true Holy Spirit comforting—lifting up their spirits to see that God is bigger than their circumstances, that God is in control, that God is more interested in making them into the image of Christ than letting them stay in their state of self-pity and depression. Instead of siding with them, we need to encourage and pray with them, and lift them up from their miserable state.
I remember reading a book by Watchman Nee where he wrote of a woman who gently went to a woman who was crying. Instead of saying, “What are you crying for, my dear?” she asked, “Who are you crying for? Yourself or for someone else?”
When Jesus promised His disciples to send the beloved Comforter to them in John 16:7, He immediately states in the next verse that the Comforter “will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (verses 8--11).
May God give us great discernment as we comfort. Let’s look to the Lord for His anointing as we comfort that we will comfort the way the Holy Spirit comforts—lifting us up to a new plane, not covering a wound with a patch of nice words when the problem still festers underneath.
Love and blessings,
Nancy Campbell
Picture: LOVE ONE ANOTHER--Art by Mary Engelbreit
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In the midst of your daily routine and challenges of mothering you can often forget the awesomeness of what you are doing. Do you realize, mother, that your children are not only a gift from God to you, but a gift from God to the world? Motherhood is so far-reaching. It's not confined to your little home. Each one of your children have been destined by God and have been in His heart from the foundation of the world. God has a special purpose for each one of them to fulfill. What a privilege to raise a child who is "a gift to the world"!
God said to Jeremiah: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5 WEB). The word "appointed" in the Hebrew means "a gift" and in other Scriptures is mostly translated "give."
Rejoice in the greatness of your calling today. You are nurturing and preparing children who have been appointed as a "gift to the world." As you nurture, teach, pray over them, and prepare them for God’s destiny for their life you will get to see the exploits God will do in their lives to bless many people.
This is the power of motherhood. It is not something you are doing for yourself. You are blessing the world!
Blessings today from Nancy Campbell
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Meadow wrote this song to her father when she was 13 years. She also recorded it on the father's CD, "Richest Man on Earth" which you can download or purchase from the Above Rubies bookstore:
http://bit.ly/RichestManOnEarth
http://tinyurl.com/RichestManOnEarthMP3
Samantha, one of our Above Rubies girls made a video of this song with pictures of Meadow dancing with her father on her wedding day, 10 September. You will love it.
~ Nancy
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We have some old Alexander hymn books which we often use when we sing a hymn at our Family Devotions. I discovered this hymn and loved the words. I have never sung a tune to it, but I do want to share the wonderful words with you.
Far beyond all human comprehension,
Measured by an infinite dimension,
Wonderfully broad in its intention,
Is the boundless love of God.
Refrain:
Love divine surpasses all that human tongue can tell,
While on earth or in eternity;
Higher than the mountains where the soaring eagles dwell,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea,
Love sufficient to redeem and set a captive free,
As shoreless and as endless as eternity.
Great enough to sacrifice with pleasure,
And to give away its richest treasure,
And to drink of pain in brimming measure,
Is the wondrous love of God.
Greater than my sin and condemnation,
Great enough to give me, full salvation,
And to fill my soul with jubilation,
Is the matchless love of God.
Deep enough for those in degradation,
Higher than the highest elevation,
Broad enough to take in ev’ry nation,
Is the boundless love of God.
How can we ever fathom God’s wondrous love? I don’t think even eternity will be enough to truly understand the greatness of our salvation. It is truly beyond our human comprehension. We should never let a day go by when we don’t thank and worship Him for His eternal salvation.
Love from Nancy
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“To have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge pledge myself to you."
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Dear mother, you are in the most power-packed and influential career in the nation. When you get up each morning, get dressed accordingly. Don't wander out in your bathrobe--you can't work in your bathrobe. Get dressed and ready for your great job for the day. Not only put on your clothes, but put on the right attitude.
Start the day confessing, "I love being a mother. I am in the greatest career in the nation. The children and I are going to have a great day today."
Now you are dressed. You have the right attitude and confession. You're ready to go!
Have the greatest day,
Nancy Campbell
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Psalm 125:1 says: “They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever.” What an amazing promise. When we trust in the Lord we will not be moved. We won’t be moved by negative thoughts. We sure have to have our shield up to push these back don’t we? We won’t be moved by what we see in the natural. Instead, we will see by the eye of faith. We won’t be moved by our circumstances because we know that God is bigger than our circumstances. He is the only One who can truly work things out the right way.
Begin by trusting God in the little things you face each day. As you trust Him in the little things, your faith will increase to trust Him in the big things. Instead of being miserable and in a nervous state, you will be happy. Proverbs 16:20 says: “Whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.”
Many blessings to you today,
Nancy Campbell
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God is a dwelling God. He dwelt among His people of Israel, He wants to dwell in His people today, ands He promises He will dwell with us for ever in the eternal realm.
Yes, dear mother, He wants to live and abide in your life and in your home. Psalm 132:13-15 says: “For the LORD that chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.” God originally dwelt in the Holy of Holies in the temple, but you are now His Holy of Holies. I love the GW translation: “He wants it for his home. This will be my resting place forever. Here I will sit enthroned . . .”
God not only wants to abide in you but to rest in you. He wants to feel comfortable in your heart and home. And because He has made you His rest and His habitation, He takes responsibility for you. He says that He will provide for you. He will satisfy you with all your needs. You don’t have to trust in your own provision, but in His provision.
The NET translation says: “I will abundantly supply what she needs; I will give her poor all the food they need.”
Forget worrying how you will survive. Trust in your God who dwells within you. He has promised to provide for all the children He gives to you (Deuteronomy 28:4-6 and Psalm 37:25).
Be encouraged today, Nancy Campbell
Check this link:
http://tinyurl.com/CanGodProvideforBaby
Scriptures to check:
God is a Dwelling God: Exodus 29:45, 46; Leviticus 26:11, 12; 1 Kings 6:12, 13; Zechariah 2:10; 1Corinthians 6:19, 20; 2 Corinthians 6:16-18; Colossians 1:27; John 14:16-18; 15:5-7; and Revelation 21:3.
God is a Providing God: Deuteronomy 2:7; Nehemiah 9:20, 21; Psalm 34:8-10; 37:25, 26; 78:18-25, 32, 41; 127:2; Proverbs 12:11; Matthew 6:25-33; Philippians 4:5, 6, 11-13, 19; 1 Timothy 6:6-8; and Hebrews 13:5, 6.
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God loves weddings. Weddings brings families together. They are God’s design. His plan. His delight. In fact, God equates His blessing upon a nation with weddings. Jeremiah 33:11 describes it: “The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth forever.”
The Hebrew word for “joy” is “sasown” and means “cheerfulness, joy, mirth, and rejoicing.” The Hebrew word for “gladness” is “simchah” and means “blithesomeness and glee, exceeding gladness and joyfulness, pleasure, and mirth.” Wow, you can’t get much more joy than this, can you? This is the joy God has about a young man and a virgin being joined together. This is the joy we have as we celebrate with them.
Meadow and Kendall’s wedding began at 4.00 pm on Saturday. The seven bridesmaids and five flower girls walked down the aisle in an idyllic outside setting. Then came the beautiful bride on the arm of her father. It was picture perfect. The pastor began his opening remarks. He hardly got started and the wind picked up. They sky grew dark. The thunder boomed and all of a sudden, before we could believe what was happening, drenching rain poured down. Wedding party, mothers and babies, and guests all ran for cover! The pouring rain drenched everyone, including the bridal couple!
What a way to start a beautiful wedding. But our spirits were high and no one minded at all. The bridal party soon got in position again in the reception hall and the wedding service and vows continued. Even Meadow and Kendall, who love everything to be perfect, were not fazed at all. In fact, God broke up the perfectness and everyone celebrated all night!
We cannot put God in a box. Later Serene said, “God is not a tame lion. We cannot tame him and push Him around. Surely God would never allow one of my children to have cancer!~ Surely God would never allow one of my children to have a serious accident and brain injury. And Surely God would never allow it to rain on MEADOW’S wedding! But God is bigger than all our situations and He is still in control and we can totally trust Him.” Everything He does is good. Amen and Amen.
After the meal we had loads of speeches as bridesmaids and groomsmen and others told stories about Meadow and Kendall and affirmed all their wonderful attributes. Such a very special couple. Many commented on the kingly anointing on Kendall’s life and the queenly attributes of Meadow. Speeches are very much part of all our family functions, and especially weddings. And then everyone danced and rejoiced as God wants us to do at weddings.
I’ll send more pictures in another post.
Blessings,
Nancy
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Today at 4.00 pm this beautiful oasis will be decorated and waiting the wedding of our granddaughter, Meadow Barrett (Pearl's daughter) who will be married to Kendall Hall. She will have seven bridesmaids and five little flower girls attending her. They are all upstairs getting dressed now. It's going to be a most beautiful wedding.
~ Nancy
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What kind of food do you eat in your home? Junk food or healthy food? I’m sure most of you try to eat healthy food as much as possible. As mothers we are very aware of our responsibility regarding what we allow our children to eat. I cared very much for my children’s bodies as they grew up. I never allowed junk food. Never had any refined foods, white sugar, or any of the “whites” (white flour, white pasta, white rice, etc.) in my pantry. I wanted them to grow healthy and strong. Apart from going to the emergency room for broken bones or the boys cutting their legs open throwing knives (!) etc., we didn’t even have a doctor for any of our children growing up.
But although I cared so much for their bodies, I cared even more for their souls and spirits. We didn’t feed our children scraps. Praise God, we live in a country where we have access to whatever food we want. They don’t have to live on scraps; we can give them the best food. But what do we feed their souls and spirits? Do we allow them to feed on scraps? I’m amazed that many Christian mothers don’t mind their children spending hours on Pokémon Go, Harry Potter, and many other negative and questionable games and books. Scraps for their souls.
What about their spirits? Many Christian mothers are satisfied to make sure their children attend Sunday School or church once a week. They are not diligent to daily (and that means more than once a day) feed their children a rich diet of God’s Word (Colossians 3:16). Once a week is equivalent to a few scraps.
Dear mothers, God has a RICH diet for us and for our families. Hear His invitation to you in Isaiah 55:12, 2 (GW): “Listen! Whoever is thirsty, come to the water! Whoever has no money can come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk. You don’t have to pay; it’s free! Why do you spend money on what cannot nourish you and your wages on what does not satisfy you? Listen carefully to me: Eat what is good, and enjoy the BEST FOODS.”
God does not want you to live on scraps. He wants you to enjoy the BEST foods--for your body, soul, and spirit. He wants to nourish your children with life-giving foods for their bodies, souls, and spirits. He wants you to live in abundance. But there’s one condition; you have to listen diligently to God Himself. You can’t do it your way. You have to search His word. You have to seek after His wisdom. Not your mindset, but His mindset (Isaiah 55:8, 9 - same chapter!). It’s only in Him that all treasures and riches are found (Colossians 2:3).
May you live on the richest of food,
Nancy Campbell
P.S. Here are some other translations of the above Scripture:
TLV: “Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourself
in ABUNDANCE.” (Also AMP and NASB).
CEB: “Enjoy the RICHEST OF FEASTS.”
GNB: “You will enjoy the BEST FOOD OF ALL.” (God’s food is the BEST food of all!).
NCV: “Your soul will enjoy the RICH FOOD THAT SATISFIES.”
NET: “ Eat what is NOURISHING! Enjoy fine food.”
TLB: “Food that FATTENS UP THE SOUL.” (We must fatten our children’s souls and spirits as well as nourish their bodies).
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Where do you keep the Bible in your home? On the shelf? We have lots of Bibles on our bookshelves. In fact, I have a whole shelf of different translations. Beside your bed? On the table? In the bathroom? On your iPhone? It’s great to have God’s Word in all these places, ready to pick up wherever you happen to be. But even if we have twenty or more Bibles in our home, it’s not enough. We’ve got to keep it even better places.
The Bible itself tells us where it’s meant to be:
IN OUR MINDS
Psalm 119:48: “I will meditate in thy statutes.” (Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2; and 119:15;130). Our mind is filled with God’s Word because we read it at every opportunity. We establish Family Devotions in our home to make sure our children receive God’s Word at least two times a day. More is better. They can never get enough. It is their wisdom, their education, their life, their guide, and their discernment to know what is of God and what is not.
IN OUR HEARTS
Psalm 119:11: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” We know we have to get it past our minds and down into our hearts. Have your children got God’s Word in their hearts? Is it settled in their hearts? Is it the foundation on which they base everything they learn? When we, and our children, have God’s Word imbedded into our hearts, it keeps us walking in God’s way and never veering to the right or left. I love Psalm 37:31:”The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.”
Read also Deuteronomy 6:6,7; Psalm 40:8; 119:34; 111; 161; Isaiah 51:7; and Luke 2:19, 51.
IN OUR MOUTHS
We think it is enough to keep God’s Word in our hearts. No, God wants it in our mouths. He wants it in our children’s mouths. He wants it in our grandchildren’s mouths. Isaiah 59:21 is God’s vision for us as we raise our families: “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy MOUTH, shall not depart out of thy MOUTH, nor out of the MOUTH of thy seed, nor out of the MOUTH of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and forever.”
Is God Word freely in your mouth? Is God’s Word in your children’s mouths? When you are sitting together with them at lunch today, quote the beginning of some Scriptures. Stop half way through and see if they can finish the verse. Our children should be familiar with God’s Word. It should be coming out of their mouths.
Read also Psalm 116:10; 119:13; Romans 10:9, 10; 2 Corinthians 4:13; and Hebrews 10:23.
IN OUR HANDS
Psalm 149:6: “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand.” Ephesians 6:17 tells us that the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God and is part of or armor. We can’t live without it. We can’t fight off the temptations of the devil without it (Hebrews 4:12 and Revelation 1:16). In fact Psalm 149:7-9 tells us more of the power of this sword we have in our hearts, mouths, and hands: “To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written: THIS HONOR HAVE ALL HIS SAINTS. Praise ye the Lord.”
IN OUR FLESH
What does Proverbs 4:22 say about God’s Words? “For they are life unto those that find them, and HEALTH to all their flesh.” The word “health” in Hebrew means “medicine, healing, a cure.” God’s Word translations says: “They HEAL THE WHOLE BODY.” The Knox translation says: “They bring life and healing to his whole being.”
When we constantly speak God’s Word OUT LOUD our body hears it. God’s Word is life and healing and the more our bodies hear it, the more they live in divine health (Proverbs 3:18 and 16:24).
Make sure God’s Word is in the right places.
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
PICTURE: Our grandson, Zadok Johnson, who passionately loves the Word, God's two-edged sword, and who seeks to win souls to Jesus each new day.
QUESTION: Did you get a chance to look up the extra Scriptures listed? It's not my words, but God's Words that changes our hearts and lives. Check them out when you can.
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We often sing the hymn:
I surrender all,
I surrender all,
All to Thee my blessed Savior
I surrender all.
We sing with passion, totally abandoning our lives to God. It’s not so hard to do when we are with the saints in the presence of the Lord. But what about in the nitty gritty of life? Although we do these big “surrenders” every now and then, I believe that surrendering is not a onetime act, but a day by day experience. Actually, a moment by moment experience in each new situation we face.
Surrendering to God means giving up our will for God’s will in the practical areas of life. It’s surrendering to the daily “sameness” of managing the home and caring for our children. We’d like to escape, but instead we surrender with joy to our God-given nurturing anointing of caring for our children.
To surrender means yielding to the patience and longsuffering of Christ that dwells in me when I’d rather fly off the handle and give release to pent up emotions. To surrender means to be full of joy (which is Christ’s joy in me) when I’m feeling depressed and full of self-pity. To surrender means to stand on the promises of God’s Word which live and abide forever, rather than giving into my doubts and unbelief.
To surrender means to submit to my husband when he gives me direction or correction. Yes, this is surrendering to Christ. Heeding reproof and receiving correction is ;a spirit of surrender. That’s why a onetime act doesn’t cut it; it’s an attitude of surrender!
What about surrendering our bodies? Many Christians sing in church, “I surrender all” with their hands outstretched. However, if you ask them later, “Are you looking forward to another baby?” you may receive a negative remark such as, “No way, we’ve put a stop to all that.” They have not surrendered their lives after all. And yet Romans 12:1 says: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Be blessed today,
Nancy Campbell
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Mark 8:35 has always been a challenging verse to me as a mother: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” We often feel that we give out more than we have to give as we pour out our lives in motherhood We feel as if we are losing our lives.
However, this Scripture takes on more meaning when we understand the full meaning of “save” which is the Greek word “sozo.” Dear mother, God promises that you will not lose. Instead, you will not only be saved, but delivered, protected, healed, preserved, and made whole by pouring out your life in this great and divine calling God has given to you.
We should also take the warning. This Scriptures tells us that we actually lose our lives when we try to save and pamper them. The word “lose” is “apollumi” and means “to destroy fully, to perish (literally or figuratively), to mar.” Most other times in the New Testament this word is translated “destroy” or “perish.”
Isn’t it amazing how we think the opposite to God? And yet His way is the way that works; our way always takes down a wrong path. God’s way leads to life; our way leads to destruction.
Blessings to you today,
Nancy Campbell
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