Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Recently the Billy Graham Association published some astounding statistics:

Apparently 7 million people google for answers about loneliness.
22 million Americans ages 12 and older abuse or are addicted to drugs and alcohol.
21 million Americans struggle with depression.
30,000 commit suicide each year.
An estimated 40 million people in the US are trapped or crippled by fear.

This is not the plan God intended for mankind. The devil delights in it for he is the one who comes to "steal, kill, and destroy" (John 10:10). He seeks to rob us of God's plan which is family. God's plan is for every person to live in a loving, stable, God-fearing family.

With so much unfaithfulness in marriage, so many single mothers, so many living on their own, more and more people choosing alternative life styles, and so many choosing their own way instead of God's way, we are reaping the devastating havoc in society.

The greatest need of this nation is strong, healthy, intact families. The greatest thing you can do as a mother is to strengthen your own family. Build your family life. Don't get involved in too many things outside your home. You will become flustered, frazzled, and the family will become fragmented. Instead, think of ideas to gather the family together. Think of things to do that will strengthen your family. Daily gather around your family meal table for your meals.

As you strengthen and build up your family, also seek to encourage and bless other families.

Let's be an answer to this nation's greatest need.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

When God was looking for a king to rule over His people Israel, what did He look for? He looked for a "man after his own heart" (1 Samuel 12:14). When Samuel the priest beheld each of the seven sons of Jesse, he was tempted to think that each one of them could be the new king of Israel, because of their height and good looks. But God rebuked Samuel, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16: 7).

Interestingly, David was not an ordinary looking young man. He was very handsome and had beautiful sparkling eyes (1 Samuel 16:12). In fact, there is more written about David's good looks than any other man in the Bible. But that's not what God was looking at. He was looking at the heart.

As parents, do we see things the same way God sees them? Sometimes we can get caught up with the outward appearance. How can I prepare my children to be great in this world? Where can they get the best education? We can spend a lot more time developing the intellects of our children and even their physical bodies (carting them around to their various sports). I'm not saying these things are unimportant, but we need to challenge ourselves as to whether we are spending as much time (and actually it should be a WHOLE LOT MORE time) in ministering to the hearts of our children.

Of course, we cannot change their hearts. It is only the power of the Holy Spirit working in them. But we can provide the tools for God to move by spending time in prayer for each of our children, daily filling them with the principles of God's Word, and seeking God's wisdom to adjust their heart attitudes. This should be our consuming passion.

When david was eventually brought from way out in the fields where he was tending the sheep, God said to Samuel, "Arise, anoint him, for THIS IS HE" (1 Samuel 16:12). This is the one. This is one who has a heart like my heart. This is the one I can use. This is the one I can trust to lead and care for my nation (Psalm 78:70-72).

Are we preparing children to fit into this world's system or are we preparing children who have hearts after God and hearts like God's heart? Will He be able to say of our children, "This is the one."?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

As my husband and I were praying for each one of our family (as we do each day) and for people facing great trials, my husband prayed, "May they run to the Tower." I love that. May we be those who run to the Tower. Not one of us are exempt from facing trials, heartaches, and challenges. If we are not at this moment, we are sure to face them in this coming year. Instead of going into panic mode, worrying ourselves sick, or feeling desperate, may we get into the habit of running to the Tower. May this be the first thing we automatically do.

What is the tower? It's the name of the Lord. The mighty, powerful, awesome name of the Lord that is more than able to overcome anything that comes against us. The name of the Lord to which the enemy must bow.

Proverbs 18:10 says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." And Psalm 61:3 says, "For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy."

Be blessed today. Nancy Campbell

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing!

When Isaac Watts wrote the great lines of the carol, "Joy to the world, the Lord is come" he wrote biblical truth. In his old age, John, the apostle, wrote, "And WE KNOW that the SON OF GOD IS COME, and hath given us an understanding, that we may KNOW him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen" (1 John 5:20-21).

Some biblical commentators say these words may have been the last chronological words written in the Bible, even before Revelation. We should prick up our ears and listen. When John wrote these words, Jesus had already come into this world as a little baby and fulfilled His mission of sacrificing His life for our sins. He had already returned to Heaven and promised He was coming again. But John doesn't say, "He came," or "He will come again." He emphatically states that "HE IS COME."

When we are born again, He comes to dwell in our hearts by His Holy Spirit. He abides in us and wants us to abide in Him. A mystical union. He is Emmanuel, God with us. This is the apex of Christianity, "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

If you are saved by the blood of Jesus, Christ IS come to you. He is in you. He is with you in your home, in your situation, whatever is happening in your life right.

This is the message of Christmas--Christ is come! What rejoicing!

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

AN IMPORTANT POST FOR ALL PARENTS TO READ!
Apart from the official Hanukkah which we are currently celebrating, we read about a number of Hanukkah 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 in a FULL TIME HANUKKAH CELEBRATION!

When we understand that to train our children means to dedicate them to the Lord, it gives us a much larger and loftier vision. Everything we do is now in the light of dedicating our children 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 and prepare them for Him.

As children get older, they can become more worldly and want to do what other more 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 a an ungodly education system each day when 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

Without God we live in darkness. He is the one who said, "Let there be light: and there was light" (Genesis 1:3). Jesus is the Light of the world. He is "THE TRUE LIGHT,WHICH LIGHTS EVERY MAN THAT COMES INTO THE WORLD" John 1:9). Every person who is born into this world is without excuse regarding their relationship with God. Every new baby is born with a God consciousness, a light from God our Maker. We have a conscience that knows what is good and evil. This only comes from God.

Proverbs 20:27 says "The spirit of man is the candle (light) of the Lord." Have you noticed that when a new baby is born into a family that there is a heavenly atmosphere about the home? There is an "awe" that we only experience with a new babe. I believe we are experiencing a new light from heaven. I think this is why little children are so open to God. Recently I watched my little three-year old grand-daughter sing all day about how Jesus is in her heart and how she loves God.

Why then do many walk in darkness? The answer is in John 3:19-21. We are all born with a light from God, but we can either push back the light or open up more and more to the light. It is a privilege for children to be born into a home where parents love God. These children have an opportunity to open up more and more to the light. In an ungodly home, the light with which they are born can be gradually extinguished or even smothered completely.

I believe that every time we say Yes to God and obey the prompting of His Holy Spirit within our hearts, we experience more light in our lives. Every time we say No to God and are disobedient to the Word, we accept darkness. Teach your children this principle, dear mother. Teach them that saying Yes to you and Yes to God will bring them to more and more light (Proverbs 4:18). Teach them that when they say No to you and No to God's ways, their minds and hearts will cloud with darkness.

Job 18:5-56 says, "Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him." I don't want it to be dark in my home. I'm sure you don't want it to be dark in yours either. Let's open our hearts and minds MORE AND MORE to the light of God. Begin each day by praying, "Oh Lord God, please flood my mind, my heart, and my home with your light, today. Amen."

One of my favorite Scriptures is Proverbs 4:18: "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth MORE AND MORE unto the perfect day."

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Judas Maccabee and his brothers were continually fighting battles to save Israel and every time they faced armies far larger and stronger than themselves, but their trust was in God.

Listen to Judas' confession on one occasion: "When all his followers saw the host coming against them, they said to Judas, 'How can so few of us fight against so many? Besides, we have had nothing to eat all day, and we are exhausted.' Judas replied: 'Many can easily be overpowered by a few; it makes no difference to Heaven to save by many or by few. Victory does not depend on numbers; strength comes from Heaven alone . . . Heaven will crush them before our eyes. You need not be afraid of them'" (1 Maccabees 3:17-21).

I know that you, too, often face dilemmas that loom much bigger than you can handle. Don't focus on your difficulty. Look to God. He is your Strength. He is your Source. He is your Sufficiency. He will always do what you cannot do. When we try to handle our problems we usually make a mess of the job. Put them in God's hands for He knows what is best to do.

Victory does not come by intelligence or fleshly strength. It only comes from God. Just as God delivered the Maccabees over and over again as they faced insurmountable armies, so God will deliver you as you trust in Him. Make sure you have the right confession. Don't confess your problems; confess your trust in God. It's the way to victory.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Hanukkah is also called the "Festival of Lights" because of the relighting of the Menorah. This was a huge thing that happened that day, because the Jews knew that God had commanded the lights in the Holy Place to BURN CONTINUALLY. They were to never to go out--and they had been out for a long time! God said it was a statute that must continue for all generations (Exodus 27:20-21 and Leviticus 24:1-4).

How did they keep the lamps burning day after day, year after year? God said they had to attend to the lamps every morning and every evening. They had to trim the wicks and pour more oil into the lamps, the oil speaking of the Holy Spirit. Once a day was not sufficient. It required attention two times a day to keep the light burning

This is a type for our lives today. When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, He fills us with His light, but it is very easy for the light to go out. There are many temptations, deceptions, and evils around that dim our light. To keep the light burning, we must tend to it every morning and evening. We need to do this individually and as a family.

A powerful way to keep God's light burning in every member of our family is to have Family Devotions every morning and evening. Each time we come together as a family, read the Word, and spend time in prayer, we relight our lamps. If we fail to do this, our light will go out very quickly.

How big is the flame in your family? We are not meant to be a flickering light, but a great light. If your flame is only smoldering, get back to God's "morning and evening" principle. It's the only way that works. Let the light in "the holy place" of your temple and your home shine for all to see God's light.

Love from Nancy Campbell

A brave mother watched her son being killed. No, not just killed but cruelly tortured. They cut out his tongue, scalped him, cut off his hands and feet, and then maimed and helpless, fried him alive! But, in the same manner they tortured and killed her second and third sons. The third son cried out, "I have received these limbs from heaven, and I give them up for the sake of God's laws." Another cried out, "We are prepared to die rather than sin against our ancestral laws" (2 Maccabees 7:2, 11).

Because they would not bend and turn from God's laws this dear mother watched as Antiochus tortured her fourth, fifth, and sixth sons the same way. The mother had only one son left, her beloved youngest. Antiochus tried to influence the mother to save his life. He promised he would make him rich and prosperous and even a political advisor. She obliged by turning to her youngest son saying, "Son, pity me who carried you in the womb nine months, nursed you for three years, nurtured you, and brought you into this stage of life with care. I beg you, child . . . Don't fear this killer but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death so that in God's mercy I should recover you with your brothers" (2 Maccabees 7:27-29). She watched her last son die before she was put to death herself.

This mother was a nurturing and caring mother. But, she had a vision for her children beyond this earth. She raised her sons to fear God rather than man. She raised them to stand for truth, no matter what the consequences. She raised them to see beyond this earth to the endless life of the heavenly.

May God help us to be courageous mothers. May He save us from raising wimpy, mediocre children who are seduced by the humanist trend of an ungodly society. May He anoint us with the mighty power of God to raise children who will have the courage to stand for God and for truth, no matter what persecution they face.

(You can read the whole of this amazing story in 2 Maccabees chapter seven).

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

We read in our Light Scriptures last night how Jesus was a GREAT light (Isaiah 9:2 and Matthew 4:12-17). He wasn't a flickering little light. He came to shine a huge light into the darkness of this world. The word in the Greek is "megas." I wonder if this where we get the word, mega?

Jesus still wants to be a GREAT light in this world, but now His plan is to shine through you and me. Are we shining the great light of Jesus through our lives? Or is it such a tiny light that people hardly recognize it? Are we shining His light in our home? Are we a great light as we go out into society?

Let Jesus be BIG in your life today. Allow Him to expose all darkness in your own life. Repent of anything in ;your life that grieves the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to expose all darkness in your home. And then, filled with the LIGHT OF THE WORLD, shine big. When you go out with your children be conscious of SHINING A HUGE LIGHT for the glory of God in this dark world. Never be ashamed.

Be a light shiner and a darkness exposer wherever you go.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Why do we call this celebration "Hanukkah"? The reason is that "Hanukkah" is the Hebrew word for "dedication." When Judas Maccabee (the hammer) and his army eventually crushed their enemies, Judas and his brothers said, "Let's go up to cleanse and rededicate the sanctuary" (1 Maccabees 4:36). The temple was desolate, the gates burned, and even shrubs were crowing in the courts like a forest! But they restored the sanctuary, built a new altar with whole unpolished stones (because the altar had been desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes), brought in the Lampstand, the Altar of Incense, and the Table of Showbread, and offered sacrifices. "So they celebrated the rededication of the altar for eight days" (1 Maccabees 4:56).

How does this affect our lives? God no longer lives in the Holy of Holies in the temple, but in our bodies, which are the temple of His Holy Spirit. In fact, we are not just the temple of the Holy Spirit, but the "naos" which is the Holy of Holies (1 Corinthians 6:19 and 2 Corinthians 6:16). What an indescribable truth!

Our "naos" may not be desolate, but it is very easy for us to allow things to come into our lives which grieve the Holy Spirit and spoil and dirty our temple.

It is a lovely idea to have a rededication of our temples one night during Hanukah. Choose which morning or evening you would like to do this together as a family. Explain to your children about it, and then ask each one of them to confess to the Lord anything in their lives that grieves the Holy Spirit and to rededicate their "body temple" to the Lord. This includes mom and dad too, of course.

When we have all dedicated ourselves individually, then the father can rededicate the whole family to be a living sacrifice to the Lord and to be set apart for His purposes (Romans 12:1-2). I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily as you experience this dedication service in your home.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Jesus Christ, the Son of God was never reticent to speak the truth, even in the face of death. When he came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Dedication, he was walking in Solomon's Porch (on the eastern side of the temple) and people gathered around him.

Jesus knew the Jews would be remembering more than the rededication of the temple and the lighting of the Menorah again. They were remembering the great victory over Antiochus Epiphanes, but also how he lifted himself to be god over them. It was Antiochus himself who added "Epiphanes" to his name, which means "God manifest" which was utter blasphemy to the Jews.

In the midst of this thinking Jesus boldly and publically declared, "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). In other words, He confessed that He was God, which of course, He was! This was too much for the Jews who, remembering Antiochus Epiphanes the evil blasphemer, took up stones to stone him (John 10:22-33).

It was no coincidence that Jesus chose this timing to speak these words. Everything about Hanukkah speaks of standing up for truth even in the face of danger.

May we never cringe to speak the truth, no matter what the consequences. "The righteous are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1).

Love from Nancy Campbell

Did you start reading the wonderful Scriptures last night about God being the source of light? When God told the priests to light the Menorah in the Holy Place, He told them that they had to attend to it every morning and evening so that it would never go out. He said it was to "BURN ALWAYS" (Exodus 27:20). What a challenge to us today.

When Jesus was on earth He stated, "I am the Light of the world." Now that He has returned to glory, He comes to dwell in our hearts to light up the world through us. And He does not want the light to go out.

May God help us to keep His light burning in our hearts continually. May He help us to keep the light of God burning brightly in our homes. May He anoint us by the power of the Holy Spirit to keep the light burning in the hearts of our children.

The more we shine the light of Jesus, the more the darkness and evil of this world is exposed.

Love from Nancy Campbell

This evening is the first day of Hanukkah, or the Feast of Dedication as it is called in the New Testament (John 10:22-23). It is a festival of lighting candles for eight days to remember the dedication of the temple and the relighting of the lampstand which God commanded should never go out (Exodus 27:20-21).

It all happened because of a very brave family. At this time in history Antiochus Epiphanes ruled over Israel and commanded all Jews to renounce their way of life, practice pagan observances, and live like the Greeks. He erected the "abomination of desolation" in the temple. Many Jews assimilated to avoid persecution and being killed. BUT NOT THIS FAMILY!

Mattathias was a godly older man with five brave sons--John, Simon, Judas (known as Maccabeus), Eleazar, and Jonathan. When the officials came to their town of Modein, they tried to get Mattathias to influence the people of his town to turn away from God. Listen to his reply, "Mattathias answered in a LOUD VOICE: What do I care if everyone in the king's entire kingdom turns from their own religion and starts obeying his laws? MY FAMILY AND I WILL ALWAYS KEEP THE PROMISES OUR ANCESTERS MADE TO GOD. WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP OUR FAITH OR DISOBEY EVEN ONE OF GOD'S LAWS. WE WILL NOT OBEY ANTIOCHUS!" (1 Maccabees 2:19-20).

When a cowardly Jew stepped forward to obey the king by offering a sacrifice, Mattathias was so furious that he rushed over, killed the man, destroyed the altar, and killed the official who ordered the sacrifice. He and his sons then ran to the hills leaving everything they owned behind. Thus began the bravery of the Maccabee family who conducted continual battles against the enemy and eventually delivered Israel and Jerusalem and the temple of God.

We don't face being killed for our faith today here in our Western countries, although this is currently happening in many countries of the world. ISIS has beheaded many Christians in Iraq, and not only adults, but children. In fact, only the other day we received the report that ISIS threatened four children: "You say the words that you will follow Mohammed." How did these children (under the ages of 15) answer? "No, we love Yeshua [Jesus], we have always loved Yeshua." They immediately chopped off their heads.

However, we daily face subtle indoctrination to succumb to Satan's plans and give in to humanist, progressive ideology. Will we be those who give in or will we have courage, individually, and as families to stand true to God, even if no one else is standing? The Scripture says, "Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4).

May God give us the strength and anointing to raise families who will have courage and boldness to stand up for truth and never give up their faith.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

There are two ways believers can get into the eternal kingdom. We will either have an ABUNDANT entrance, or we'll just make it by the skin of our teeth! We feel the tragic loss when someone loses everything they own because of a fire, but we are grateful they come forth alive.

1 Corinthians 3:15 says: "If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." This is the picture God gives of those who put all their thought, time, and energy into this transient "passing away" world which God says is just like a vapor. They take nothing of it into eternity, although they just get in the door themselves.

1 Peter 1:3-11 tells us about another group of believers who are ushered into eternity with an ABUNDANT entrance. These are the ones who are not content to keep in step with the world. They hate evil and seek after righteousness. They are diligently INCREASING in faith, godliness, virtue, the knowledge of God, self control, patience, kindness, and love.

How do you want to get in? How do you want your children to get in? I know my answer.

It takes effort. We have to get out of the groove of the carnal, in-step-with-the-world, compromising, mediocre, half-hearted, middle-of-the road Christianity. But be encouraged, dear mother. Even though you often feel frustrated and overwhelmed, let me tell you that as you mother your precious children today, you are doing an eternal work. You are building for eternity. Other careers will be left behind, but you are mothering eternal souls that will live forever. As you lead your precious children to Jesus, you will take them into the eternal kingdom with you forever. Mothering hours are never wasted.

Seek with all your heart to make sure that you, and each one of your children, have an abundant entrance where "God will open wide to you the gates of the eternal kingdom."

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Day 1
God is the Source of Light and gives Light
Genesis 1:3-5
Exodus 27:20-21; 40:24-25; cf. Leviticus 24:1-4; Numbers 8:1-3
Exodus 13:21; Nehemiah 9:12,19
Psalm 36:9
Psalm 104:1-2
Matthew 17:2 (You can read the whole story in Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-13; and Luke 9:28-36).
1 Timothy 6:16
James 1:17

Day 2
Jesus is the Light of the World
Isaiah 9:2, cf. Matthew 4:12-17
Luke 1:76-79; 2:27-32
John 1:4-9,cf. Job 18:5-6; Proverbs 27:20
John 3:19-21
John 8:12
John 9:5
John 12:44-46
Acts 26:22-23

Day 3
Shine the Light of Jesus to the world
Proverbs 4:18
Isaiah 58:6-8, 10
Isaiah 60:1-2
Matthew 5:14-16
Luke 12:35
John 5:35
Acts 13:47
2 Corinthians 4:4-6
Philippians 2:14-15

Day 4
God's Word is our Light
Ezra 9:8
Psalm 19:7-11
Psalm 119:18, 105, 130
Proverbs 6:20-24
Ephesians 1:17-18
2 Peter 1:1-21

Day 5
Walk in the Light
Psalm 89:15
Isaiah 2:5
Romans 13:12-14
2 Corinthians 4:4-7
1 John 1:6-9
1 John 2:8-11
Ephesians 5:8-20

Day 6
Out of Darkness into Light
2 Samuel 22:29 (Psalm 18:28)
Isaiah 42:16
Isaiah 50:10
Acts 26:17-18
1 Corinthians 4:5
1 Thessalonians 5:5
1 Peter 2:9

Day 7
Living in God is to live in Light
Psalm 4:6
Psalm 27:1
Psalm 37:3-6
Psalm 43:3-4
Psalm 112:4
Micah 7:8

Day 8
God is the Light of Heaven
Isaiah 24:23; 30:26
Isaiah 60:19-20
Revelation 21:22-25
Revelation 22:3-5

May you be blessed. Nancy

The HANUKKAH celebration begins tomorrow evening, Tuesday 16th. We enjoy celebrating Hanukkah each year. Why?

1. It is a celebration that Jesus celebrated (John 10:22-23).

2. Hanukkah in the Hebrew means "dedication." God's temple had been desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 BC but the Maccabees family led a revolt against the Seleucid armies and called the nation back to God. After they had driven them out of Judea and Jerusalem, the Maccabees consecrated and rededicated the temple. However, God no longer lives in a temple in Jerusalem, but lives in the temple of our hearts. We like to use Hanukkah as time to rededicate the temple of our lives to God.

3. It is also called the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22) and the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the re-lighting of the Menorah in the temple and how the light kept burning even when they didn't have enough oil. Because this celebration remembers the relighting of the menorah, we read about God who is the light and how He also wants us to be His light in this world. We do this at our Family Devotions each morning and evening. And each night we light a Hanukkah candle.

I will post the Scriptures about the light in a separate post for you to print out for the following week. Read and meditate on them in your personal devotional time. Then choose the ones you would like to use with your family. For each day, you may like to take half the Scriptures at Family Devotions in the morning and the other half in the evening, or whatever works out in your home. If you have older children, it's a lovely idea for each one to have their own Bible and give a Scripture for each one to read aloud--and to share what they feel God is saying through the Scriptures. If you have little ones, you may only want to take one, or one or two Scriptures from the list and talk about it.

And don't forget to ask your children questions as you read the Scriptures. This is how you learn together.

During the eight days of Hanukkah, I will also send out a post each day telling you a little story about Hanukkah that relates to us as mothers, or a revelation from the Scriptures about the meaning of Hanukkah. By the way, you may like to take time to read the history of the Maccabees in the Apocrypha. The books in the Apocrypha were not chosen to be part of the cannon of Scripture but the books of Maccabees, 1, 2, 3, and 4 are great historical reading and tell how the Jewish nation was saved from extinction at that time. I am sure God used these brave men to protect His people and also the coming Messiah. No wonder Jesus celebrated Hanukkah.

Blessings from Nancy

One writer says, "Children are said to be a trouble and expense, and men blasphemously treat the advent of children with humorous resignation, if not with positive chagrin, and feel that society requires that demeanor. What makes children trouble and expense but the indolence, hardheartedness, or extravagance of parents?"

How true it is that many laugh, sometimes derogatively or even cynically, about the blessing of children. They do this, as this quote says, because of the conditioning of society. But way down deep in their heart of hearts they love children, for God has put that love in our hearts. Who can turn away from a baby's smile? It melts the hardest heart.

God loves children. One of my favorite Scriptures in the Bible is found in 2 Samuel 24 where it tells us about the birth of Solomon and then it says, "And the Lord loved him." The Bible records that God loved this little baby, as He loves every baby He creates and brings into this world.

If we are walking in the likeness of God we will also love and embrace children. When we reject children, it is the opposite to God's character.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell