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.
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Strengthening Families Across the World through the encouragement of women in their high calling from God as wives, mothers and homemakers.

Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

DO WE HAVE THE SAME MINDSET?

SameMindsetAs I read the Scriptures, I invariably find that my thinking is quite opposite to God’s thinking. What should I do? I’ve got to change my opinion to God’s way of thinking. I think that many who call themselves Christians don’t really believe in the God of the Bible after all. It is so easy to believe in a God of our own imagination. Unless we constantly fill our minds with God’s Word, we can be deceived. The other day I was checking out God’s attitude toward fruitfulness. I notice the Bible is far removed from how even Christians think today. The average number of children per family in America is only 1.9 children per family but God’s vision is much bigger.
 
If you listen to my podcast. LIFE TO THE FULL, each week you will know that I am continually discovering adjectives in the Bible. God’s Word is filled with adjectives. God has to use adjectives because nothing about God is normal, ordinary, or status quo. He is beyond the normal. He is MORE THAN! So let me introduce you to a few more adjectives today.
 
The very first words that God spoke into the ears of man were “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth” (Genesis 1:27). But then God continues to tell us HOW He wants us to be fruitful. The Scriptures tell us that God wants us to multiply . . .
 
1. ABUNDANTLY
Genesis 9:7: “Be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth ABUNDANTLY in the earth, and multiply therein.” The Hebrew word for abundantly is “sharats” and means “to swarm or abound.”
 
The MLB translation renders it correctly when it says: “Swarm over the earth and multiply it . . .” The TS2009 says: “Bring forth teemingly in the earth . . .” The Knox translation of Exodus 1:7: says: “The race of Israel grew into a teeming multitude.”
 
2. EXCEEDINGLY
Genesis 16:10: “I will multiply thy seed EXCEEDINGLY, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.” The Hebrew word “rabah” means to increase exceedingly, to be many, to be abundant.” We read this word over 30 times in the Old Testament.
 
3. MIGHTILY
Deuteronomy 6:3: ”That ye may increase MIGHTILY as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee.” The Hebrew word is “m’od” meaning “vehemently, wholeheartedly, speedily, diligently.” We are not to fulfil this command reluctantly but with passion. The same Hebrew word is used in Psalm 105:24: “He increased his people GREATLY; and made them stronger than their enemies.”
 
There are two more Hebrew words for mightily. Exodus 1:7 tell us that “the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly and multiplied, and waxed exceeding MIGHTY, and the land was filled with them.” This word is “atsam” meaning “mightier and stronger.”
 
And in verse 9, Pharoah said: “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and MIGHTIER than we.” This time it is the word “atsuwm" meaning, “numerous, powerful, strong.”
 
4. GREATLY
Deuteronomy 26:5 tells us how the children of Israel in Egypt “became there a nation, GREAT, mighty, and populous.” The Hebrew word here is “gadol” meaning “great, exceeding, mighty, more.”
 
5. PLENTEOUSLY
Deuteronomy 30:9: “The LORD thy God will make thee PLENTEOUS . . . in the fruit of they body . . .“ The Hebrew word is “yathar”  and means “to jut over or exceed, cause to abound.”
 
6. MULTITUDINOUSLY
Genesis 32:12: “I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude." The Hebrew word for “multitude” is “rob” meaning “abundance, huge, more in number, multitude.” There are many more Scriptures where this word is used again.
 
7. POPULOUSLY
Deuteronomy 26:5 tells us how Israel became a POPULOUS nation. The word is “rab” which means “powerful, great, mighty.”
 
Do you use any of these words in your daily vocabulary? Say each one aloud. They are Bible words and therefore should be part of our thinking and vocab. Do we use the language of our humanistic society or the language of the Bible?
 
Have a great day,
 
Nancy Campbell
 
Painting by C. M. Cooper
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

GOD IS TENDERLY WATCHING OVER YOU

FeedFlock

Are you pregnant? Do you have a young baby and littlest ones around you? Dear mother, God gently leads you. You don’t have to be up the front of the flock. You don’t have to get involved in all the extras around you. You are already doing a great job. Remember that God is tenderly watching over you.

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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

A MOTHER'S INFLUENCE

MomInfluence

“The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” A mother’s heart and a mother’s hands are powerful.

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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

ZEALOUS MOTHERS

ZealousMothersSome people allow themselves to get eaten up inside with bitterness, hurt, and jealousy etc. As mothers, we cannot allow these attitudes in our lives for they destroy us and our entire family. We must keep our spirits whole--pure, blameless, and continually forgiving.
 
However, there is one area where the Bible tells us we can get eaten up? Do you know what it is? John 2:17 says of Jesus: "The zeal of thine house hath EATEN ME UP." These words were spoken after Jesus made a whip and cleansed the temple. He drove out all the sheep and oxen, tipped over all the tables and money, and cried out: "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise" (John 2:16).
 
He also cried out: "It is written, my house shall be called the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:13).
 
Your home is also God's house if you have dedicated it to the Lord, which I am sure you have. Therefore, we should have the same zeal Jesus had to protect our homes and families. We must be faithful watchwomen who drive evil out of our home even if we upset everyone! I'm sure we won't be tipping over tables and throwing money everywhere, but we'll be strong enough to take a stand against any evil that seeks to bring darkness into our homes. We passionately keep our homes holy.
 
We have the zeal of the Lord about making our home a House of Prayer! In fact, if our homes are not homes of prayer, can we call them God's homes? We plan our schedules around our daily prayer times with our family. We don't hope it fits in. We make it fit in to our schedule. Or better still, we make our schedule fit around our highest priority, our daily family times of prayer and Bible reading.
 
Jesus Christ redeemed us to be "zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14). Building your home and family for God is a good work. Do it with zeal. Don't do it half-heartedly, allowing other things to consume your mind and time. Embrace the great commission God has given to you and pour your heart into it.
 
I have watched mothers, who have been wonderful mothers, become zealously involved in a specific interest outside their home. It consumes them. Now, instead of continuing to build their marriage and children's lives, they pour their life into this vain emptiness that is temporary and has no eternal value. Their home lies destitute. They are building empty castles in the air instead of building their family.
 
May the blessings of God fall upon you, dear anointed, zealous, passionate mother.
 
~ Nancy Campbell
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

ONLY TWELVE YEARS OLD

Only12YearsOldDo you remember the account of Jesus when he was only twelve years old? The family came to the Feast of Passover at Jerusalem. On the way home, along with all the other hundreds of families returning from Jerusalem, his parents noticed Jesus' was missing. They immediately returned to Jerusalem, but it was three days before they found Him.
 
Where was he? In the temple, sitting among the teachers and doctors, asking and answering questions about his Father. What did Jesus answer to his frantic parents? "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:49). Even at this young age He wanted nothing else than God's will. This was His consuming passion for life.
 
What vision do you have for your children at this age--twelve years and moving into early teens? It saddens me that when they get to this age many children become less interested in the things of God. This breaks my heart. Statistics reveal that children who grow up in Sunday Schools rather than being in the main service with their parents are usually not interested in church by the time they are twelve years of age. They are influenced and conditioned by their peers to worldly things rather than pursuing after God.
 
Some translations of the Bible say that Jesus replied, "I must be in my Father's house?" I love the words, "My Father's courts" or "my Father's house." Jesus loved to be in the house of God. He loved to talk with and learn from older men of the deep things of the Word of God. This was his home. Do your children love to come to church, love to pray, and love to listen to adults sharing the deep truths of God?
 
What is the spiritual temperature of your twelve-year-olds and teens? Let's pray intently for our children that they will become more passionate for God with every passing year, rather than less and less.
 
Bless you today, Nancy Campbell
 
Art work by Kathy Fincher
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

YOU ARE DOING A GOOD WORK

DoingGoodWorkEphesians 6:8 tells us: “Whatsoever GOOD thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive the Lord.”
 
Dear mother, I want to remind you that you are doing a GOOD work. God tells us in Titus 2-5 that the “GOOD” things the older women must teach the younger women are all about the home—loving your husband, loving your children, and being a keeper at home. When you embrace this lifestyle God planned for you, you are doing a GOOD work.
 
When you nurse your baby, teach your children, prepare the meals, clean, and keep your house in order you are doing GOOD things.
 
Some translations call them "beautiful" things.
 
1 Timothy 5:10 also describes the woman in the home--embracing and nurturing children, showing hospitality, and ministering to the needy. Once again it says these are “GOOD works.”
 
And what does God say when you do these good things He wants you to do? You receive your reward from the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58). Be encouraged today. As you pour your life into building your marriage and your family, it is never wasted. God sees every effort. And you will not miss your eternal reward.
 
Live in the joy of knowing you are doing a good work,
 
Nancy Campbell
 
Painting by Edna Hibel
 
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

MOTHER-IN-LAW DOES THE SPLITS!

ArticleDear ladies, the other day I was searching for a certain article on my computer and while doing so, the following birth story popped up! I read it again and laughed and laughed. I had printed this in Above rubies back in 2004 and here it was, still on my computer. Although it was written so long ago, I thought I’d share it with you again today. I know you will enjoy a laugh, and also enjoy reading again of the wonder of birth. I have contacted Suzy and she is so happy for me to share it with you again. And after all these years, they are still growing their organic grains, but sorry, it is too far away to order them in New Zealand!
 
MOTHER-IN-LAW DOES THE SPLITS!
 
It’s not often you invite your mother-in-law for dinner, and she doesn’t get to eat it! Instead of a meal she falls, hits her head on a macrocarpa post, pulls her leg muscles, does the splits, breaks her pelvis, helps birth a baby . . . and finally goes home hungry and wounded but, on cloud nine!
 
Here's the story!
 
Late Saturday afternoon, 07 June 2003, my husband’s mother arrived to milk the cow. After Mum and I got the cow into the yards, and she was busy milking I walked back to the house to prepare dinner. Instead of going through the gate I climbed over the cattle yards. A tightening came just as I got to the top of the yards. I had been having tightenings since I was 20 weeks pregnant and had became so used to them, I didn’t think much about them.
 
I climbed down from the yards and had to stop for a few moments. Although the tightening wasn’t painful, it grabbed me more than before. Mum finished milking and went back home saying they would return later to have dinner with us. She had cooked one of our home-grown chickens which was in her crock-pot and it would be ready around 7.30ish.
 
I started preparing the vegies ready for tea* and put them in the oven. The tightenings started coming more often and getting tighter. All of a sudden, I felt quite weary and went upstairs to lie down. Bruce sensed things were happening and rang his Mum and Dad to come for dinner as soon as they could. They were about to leave anyway and arrived at 7.15 pm. I heard them come into the kitchen and called out to Mum from my bed saying the vegies were in the oven, I was resting upstairs and would be down to help shortly.
 
At that moment I felt a popping sensation inside me and guessed my waters may have broken. Mum came upstairs, and as she came around by the side of the bed, she slipped on the rug, (we had just had our wooden floors waxed and polished). She hit her head on the macrocarpa bedpost and fell onto the floor. I looked up from our bed and was astounded to see my mother-in-law doing the splits!
I got off the bed to help her and felt this huge gush of water bucketing down my legs. Mum had cut her forehead quite badly. Blood was pouring out from the cut and splattering on the floor. As I stood on my feet, I felt a strong bearing down sensation.
 
In the meantime, Bruce and Dad, hearing the fall from downstairs, came running up. Mum was anxious about me and told me to get downstairs right away and told Bruce to fill up the birth pool. I walked downstairs, aware that Mum must feel that the baby wasn’t far away. I felt so in control that it didn’t occur to me that it could be close. My mind was still getting over her fall and doing her callisthenics tricks on our bedroom floor!
 
I got into the birth pool. I sat down feeling relaxed, peaceful and in complete control of my body. Two-year-old Sammy-Jo was right beside me, insisting on hopping into the pool with me. Mum arrived from upstairs to have her granddaughter begging her to put her ‘star’ togs** on. She wasn’t going to miss out on any of this excitement.
 
Once in the birth pool, she splashed in the little water there was, her voice shrieking with glee. She decided to help her Daddy and Poppa with the water situation. She grabbed the cold hose that was dangling into the water and aimed it straight at me, squirting it onto my back. I shuddered with the coldness. I immediately asked her to take the hose away, but Sammy-Jo was enjoying herself too much to stop. I didn’t have a show.
 
Meanwhile, Mum was leaning over the side of the pool, I told her I felt like bearing down. Mum knew I was very close to birthing this baby and there was no midwife. She couldn’t get near enough from outside the pool to see what was happening, so she said she was getting into the pool to birth this baby herself.
 
Sammy-Jo was ecstatic as she watched her Nana climb into the pool with us. We saw the excitement on her face as she shouted to Nana to look at her ‘star’ togs as the cold hose continued to squirt all over me. For a moment I forgot what we were actually in the pool for as I laughed at my daughter having so much joy. What an unforgettable moment watching Sammy-Jo enjoying the excitement of this baby’s arrival.
 
I called for Bruce to come and pray as I knew the baby was close to being born. I didn’t feel a strong urge to push, but I could feel the baby moving down and the head crowning. He prayed and I felt very calm and relaxed. Everything that was happening in my body felt very natural. My energy level was high, and I felt empowered.
 
The atmosphere became electric. Even time halted. Something more powerful than me was at work. When the next contraction came, I had the urge to bear down although I never felt any compelling need to push. It was only three or four contractions later when I felt the pressure of the head come through and our baby was right there before us. I was overwhelmed that our baby was out. Everything had happened so quickly that I had to stop and recapture the moment.
 
“It’s a boy,” Mum elatedly cried. He wasn’t breathing so Mum and Bruce both blew on him and in a moment he took a breath and out came that first cry that brings you back into time. It was 7.50 pm.
 
Mum immediately put a hat on him and wrapped a towel around him. We stayed in the birth pool, waiting for Gretchen, the midwife, to arrive and for the delivery of the placenta. She arrived at 8.20 pm, surprised the baby was already born.
 
Gretchen delivered the placenta then helped me out of the birth pool to shower. Dad went home and brought back the celebration cake which we all enjoyed with a hot drink. We laughed as we reminisced the entertaining events of the evening.
 
There must have had an enormous amount of endorphins at our home that night. It wasn’t until it was all over that Mum felt the pain kick in from her injuries. We had no idea she had broken her pelvis in two places until she was x-rayed at Palmerston North hospital two days later.
 
Troy’s birth was the most incredible experience, thanks to our wonderful God, the Creator of life. Childbirth is not something to be scared of. Birth gives woman strength and empowers them.
 
SUZY REA
Martin, New Zealand
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 
Bruce and Suzy grow organic grains such as high protein wheat for home users who mill their own flour, oats which can be rolled for porridge, muesli bars etc, organic stock food (for poultry), peas, barley, dinkel (spelt) - the ancient grain. They also produce organic lamb and beef. The grandparents are Keith and Lorraine Rea.
 
P.S. And although this testimony was written in 2004, they are still growing their organic grains today.
* “Tea” in New Zealand is what Americans call “supper.”
** “Togs” is the word for “bathing suit” in New Zealand.
 
Painting: Dorian Florez Zuleta (Colombia)
 
Paternidades - Dorian Florez Pintor Colombiano
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

YOUR FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT

FullTimeCan you believe it? According to research by George Barna, research pollster for Cultural Research Center (CRC) at Arizona Christian University, only six percent of Christians have a biblical world view! Well, when they did the poll 51 percent stated they had a biblical world view but when asked specific questions, only six percent proved it.
 
For example, of the 51 percent, 49 percent believed that reincarnation is possible after they die! Some believed that all religions are equal, the Holy Spirit is not a personal being, and people can earn their way to heaven by being good.
 
How can this be? I guess we have to face the facts that it comes back to parents. We are responsible to pass on God’s truth to the following generation.
 
Isaiah 38:19: ”The father to the children shall make known thy truth.”
 
Deuteronomy 4:9 (NRSV): “Take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that our eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children.”
 
Deuteronomy 6:7: “Thou shalt teach them DILIGENTLY unto thy children . . .”
 
The Amplified version states: “You shall teach them diligently to your children (impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths) and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.”
 
That’s sounds like full time teaching. A LIFESTYLE of teaching our children. And it’s written to fathers and mothers, not the schoolteacher! Or even the Sunday schoolteacher!
 
Dear mothers, are you sure your children have a biblical world view? We can’t hope they have. We must know they have. And won’t happen without our daily teaching them “precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little,” and constant penetrating into their hearts and minds (Isaiah 298:10).
 
But it’s even more than their hearts. We must get it into their mouths. It’s a command. It’s only when they have God’s truths and His word coming out of their mouths that we really know that they have it. If they can’t speak it out, they can’t pass it on. We must be sure that they have it so strongly they will pass it on to the next generation.
 
God speaks to us in Isaiah 59:21 (NRSV): “”My spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your MOUTH, shall not depart out of your MOUTH, or out of the MOUTHS of your children, or out of the MOUTHS of your children’s children, says the LORD, from now on and forever.” God uses the word MOUTHS four times in this one Scripture! He wants us to get the message.
 
God has given us His truth on every matter in life. We must teach our children from His Word what He says about every subject. We dare not let our children be brainwashed by the humanistic (and many times diabolical) teaching of our current public school system that is now even trying to ram transgernderism into the minds of our littlest children.
 
Dear mothers, let’s rise and be who God has appointed us to be. He holds us responsible for passing on His truth to our children and our future generations.
 
You have a full-time career. Motherhood is not only feeding and clothing your children. It is getting God’s Word into every part of their lives.
 
Many blessings to you today,
 
Nancy Campbell
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I LOVE BEING A MOTHER!

LoveBeingMother

I know there are times when you don’t feel like this. You feel overwhelmed and worn out! But can I encourage you to say these words even when you don’t feel like it. Words have such power to change your attitude and your mindset. Speaking negatively takes you into self pity. Speaking positively brings you into joy and blessing. And even though you may have a few bad days, what are they in the lifetime of your divine calling of motherhood?

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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

CHERISHING THE MOMENTS

CherisMomentsI know you will love this lovely poem sent to me by Ashley O’Brien.
 
CHERISHING THE MOMENTS
 
Welcome to the world, sweet baby be
You came hand-delivered, sent to me
With a tiny, small frame, hands and toes,
A full head of hair and rosy pink nose.
 
Up at my breast you slurp and sip,
Nourishing milk is found on your lip,
I haven't always known, but now I see
Your whole entire world depends on me.
 
I'm a mama bear, called to stand in the fight
Against evil and lies, to pray in the night,
Our home is a place, come storm, wind, and rain
That will forever and ever exalt God's name.
 
Give me grace through the day to mirror Your light,
Disciplined, Bible reading, and tender goodnight,
Help me honor this man who’s at my side
With submission, appreciation, come any tide.
 
Help me nurture wee tots crowded around,
This is Your army, hear their triumphant sound,
Giggles and yawns, pitter-patter feet,
You see the future, You don't miss a beat.
 
I'll train them steadily with Your law and order,
Standing firm and leaning on Your shoulder,
With prayer and petition, I'll run this race
So my family and I will one day see Your face.
 
With every warm meal, diaper change, and kiss,
I'm cherishing moments I would have missed
If I took a job, which sometimes sounds nice,
But I'd be ditching my calling, too heavy a price!
 
Instead I'll stay here in these homey four walls
With my quilts, fireplace, children filling the halls,
This is my sphere, I'll take care of it well,
I'll allow The Lord's blessings, my womb will swell.
 
Oh mother, stand firm, you're doing holy work,
You get paid in kisses, that's a neat perk,
Your children will rise and call you blessed
And every now and then you'll find some rest.
 
After babes are in bed, grab your Bible and tea
Sit in bed with your man and read with glee,
These are the words that will shape your heart,
They'll keep surprising you, with every new part.
 
Set your priorities right, it's costly to fail,
Soon you'll be a legacy, children setting the sail,
A family that’s molded on God's unchanging Word
And went out to witness, out into the world.
 
Be sweet, kind, and fair, always gentle and giving,
Your children's children will always see you smiling,
And this, oh mother is very hard to do,
But do it with grace, God's covering you!
 
An older woman you'll be on your death bed
With many gathered around that you have led,
Your children will say (all grown up now),
"Thank you, Mama, for teaching us how.”
 
You'll smile up at them with a contented white glow,
Knowing they'll go beyond you and continue to grow,
You'll watch from Heaven the countless lives you began
When you chose to trust God in all of His plans.
 
~ Ashley Lynn O’Brien * This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

ALWAYS BE KIND!

AlwaysBeKind

“Be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32). This is such a beautiful Scripture and a good one to make as a memory verse for your children too.

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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

WHAT IS MARRIAGE?

WhatsMarriage

Marriage is a covenant. You can endure it or enjoy it according to how you build into it each day. One of your most powerful building words are your tools! Speak loving, kind, sweet and encouraging words to your husband each day. Even when you don’t feel like it.

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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

BETTER THAN GOLD

BetterGoldBetter than gold is a peaceful home
Where all the fireside characters come,
The shrine of love, the heaven of life,
Hallowed by mother, or sister, or wife.
 
However humble the home may be,
Or tried with sorrow by heaven’s decree,
The blessings that never were bought or sold,
And center there, are better than gold.
 
~ A. J. Ryan
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

LIKE THE WORLD OR LIKE THE BIBLE?

LikeWorlOrBibleThe devil rarely changes his tactics. Obviously, he finds the ones he uses are effective. Back in the Bible days, he continually tempted the Israelites to become like the nations around them. He uses the same temptation today. Why are God’s people lured to become like the world around them? It happens subtly. Even without trying we become absorbed into our humanist society. We think it is normal when often it is abnormal according to the plumbline of God’s word.
 
In 1 Samuel 8:5 we read how the children of Israel wanted a king: “Make us a king to judge us LIKE ALL THE NATIONS” they cried out. Samuel pleaded with them to not give into this temptation, but they would not listen. Verses 19, 20 say: “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; that we also may BE LIKE ALL THE NATIONS.”
 
I am astounded as I talk with church going people to find their lives are not very different from the world. They limit their families, put their children in day-care, and leave the home to go out into the corporate world. This is opposite to God’s original plan.
 
Recently I talked with a feminist. She hotly disagreed with women embracing their role as mothers in the home. But I had to challenge her to look at the fruit of the feminist agenda. More and more divorce and fragmentation of family. She had no answer.
 
It’s so easy to be sucked into the system of this world. We need to come continually to God’s Word to be encouraged in the truth. I think it is a great idea for mothers to Read Psalm 127 and 128 about once a week. They are God’s revelation for the family.
 
The question is: Is our family life closer to God’s way or the world’s way?
 
Be encouraged,
Nancy Campbell
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HE IS VERY PRESENT!

VeryPresentDo you need help? Right now? Psalm 46:1 is a wonderful promise to you: “God is our refuge and strength, a VERY PRESENT help in trouble.” You may not feel it, but God is with you right now. He is present in the midst of your calamity and trial. You may feel as though you are left destitute, that you can’t see any light in the tunnel, and you can’t feel that God is near at all!
 
Dear one, please understand that you can’t go by what you feel. Feelings deceive. We must go by truth and the truth is that GOD IS WITH YOU RIGHT NOW (Isaiah 43:1, 2). He is a present help. Not far away. Nor coming in two months’ time. He is with you now. You may not see the answer right now, but you can thank God that He is with you. Thank Him that He is your Strength. Thank Him that He is your Refuge. Thank Him that you can trust Him to work out your situation. In His way.
 
He is more than a present help. He is a VERY present help. The word is “m’od” in the Hebrew and means “great, exceedingly, mightily, wholly, speedily.” Believe His Word rather than your feelings.
 
As you thank God for His truth, faith will arise in your heart. You will be able to say with the psalmist as he continues in verses 2 and 3 (ESV): “THEREFORE WE WILL NOT FEAR though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.” In fact, why don’t you speak these words out loud, now! And say them again.
 
No matter how terrible your situation looks, God is bigger. And He is working it out. Sometimes it takes longer than you want but His way is always the best.
 
Love to you today,
Nancy Campbell
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Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

THE OLDER WOMEN

OlderWomenEach morning and evening when we come together to read God’s Word and pray, we use our Prayer Boxes. I have nine different Prayer Boxes on different subjects to keep us reminded about the needs for prayer. We choose two of the boxes each time. The other morning, we chose our Above Rubies box and my card read: “Pray for the older women of the nation to take up their Titus 2 mandate to teach the young women.”
 
What has happened to the older women? It is rare to find them pouring out their lives to teach, train, and encourage the new generation of young mothers. Most have forgotten about motherhood and have moved further into their careers or begun a traveling life. How can they teach the young women if they are not showing by the example of their own lives?
 
This mandate is not optional. It is a command. Unless the older women show the new generation God’s way for them to live as wives and mothers they flounder. And this is what has happened. Most of this new generation know less about being a wife and mother than any generation in history. They are not only uninformed but brainwashed against their divine calling of motherhood and building a godly home—which means being in the home!
 
Most of this generation of young mothers are not in the home. Their mothers didn’t show them an example. The older women of the church didn’t teach them. Even many pastor’s wives are out at work showing an opposite picture than God gives us in His Word.
 
Some older women are teaching God’s Word, but not the specific subjects that God commanded them to teach. Titus 2:3-5 (HCSB) states: “Older women are to be reverent in behavior . . . to teach what is good, so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind and submissive to their husbands, so that God’s message will not be slandered.” The KJV says: “that the word of God be not blasphemed.”
 
Don’t you think we better return to God’s original plan? Jeremiah 6:16 says: “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”
 
I think we could truly say:
As go the older women, so go the younger women.
As go the younger women, so go the children.
As go the children, so goes the nation!
 
It’s time for the older women to show the next generation God’s truth and His ways for them in the home. It’s time for mothers to return to their homes, the glorious sphere that God provided for the raising of children and the influence of the nation. The home is a powerful place, not only affecting our children’s lives but the myriads of people we draw into our homes to love, encourage, and nurture along the way.
 
Malachi 4:5, 6 (ESV) are the last words of the Old Testament and a continual warning to us today: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children (and that includes the mothers) and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
 
The spirit of Elijah came through John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus’ first coming. Luke1: 16, 17 tells us that he came “in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
 
But Jesus is coming a second time and once again we must be prepared for His coming. The way we do this is to turn back to our homes. Back to raising our children in the home. If we do not obey this word, instead of blessing, as the Scripture states, we will receive the curse.
 
Will we rebel or listen and obey?
 
NANCY CAMPBELL
 
Painting: A beautiful painting by Jayan Walter – “Mother”
 
HOW DO YOU MAKE PRAYER BOXES?
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

WHAT IS YOUR PASSION?

WhatIsPassionI thought that the Queen of Sheba came to visit Solomon because of his fame, wisdom, and riches. However, I noticed in 1 Kings 10:1 that there was more to her curiosity. Let’s read what it really says: “And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon CONCERNING THE NAME OF THE LORD, she came to prove him with hard questions.”
 
Her biggest interest was the name of the Lord God. We notice this again in 1 Chronicles 2:1: “And Solomon determined to build a house FOR THE NAME OF THE LORD.” The name of the Lord was Solomon’s passion.
 
What is your passion as you build your home? Is it to have the most beautiful décor? Or do you want your home to be a home where the name of the Lord is honored, uplifted, and magnified? In every room. In every life. In the atmosphere.
 
The name of the Lord is so powerful. All God’s attributes are revealed in His names. May we seek to know His name and acknowledge His name in our homes. May our children be in awe of His name. May people around know that our home belongs to the name of the Lord.
 
Through the name of Lod God, we can defeat the devil, have power over temptation, and receive answers to prayer. We are more than conquerors through His name. His name is a strong tower into which we can run.
 
Are you building a home to honor the name of the Lord? Does the fame of His name go out from your home to your neighborhood?
 
Blessings to your home today,
 
Nancy Campbell
 
Picture: Painting by John Sloane. I remember folding the sheets from the line with my mother just like this.
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

NAGGING DOESN’T WORK

Nagging“Where there is complaining, it shall fail,
Where there is nagging, it shall drive the husband away,
Where there is bitterness, it shall poison the marriage,
Where there is self-pity, it shall bring self-destruction,
But loves goes on forever!”
 
Adapted for wives from 1 Corinthians 13.
 
Art work by Claudia Tremblay. Available for purchase from Etsy.
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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

STARVE YOUR FEARS

StarveFearsAnd your faith will grow as you feed on God’s word. Feed it to yourself and feed it to your family and you will become a faith growing family.

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Nancy Campbell
Women's Daily Encouragement Blog

DO YOU KNOW?...

DoYouKnow
Are you sure your children think with a biblical world view rather than a humanistic world view? I notice that many children and young people of Christian and homeschooling parents watch a lot of movies. It would be best if they only rarely watched a good and wholesome movie. But if you allow them more, the challenge should be taken up to make sure they receive more time in God’s Word and prayer than they do of movies and the “spirit of the world.” Keep the right balance.
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