Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

The "box" of popular opinion is becoming more and more progressive with socialist agendas. Our political system is full of those who compromise our biblical and moral values in order to align us with the values of what's in the box.

It's only a matter of time when those who dare to be different, those who dare to think outside the box, will be demonized, ostracized, and persecuted in America. This is already happening verbally with inflammatory speeches given by those in the left wing box. They want capitalism to be so demonized that creative people with talents and gifts to build large companies, employ many people, and amass great wealth to be made to feel guilty of some great crime against the people in the box.

This is so hypocritical because while they criticize the wealthy business man, they of the box want to confiscate his wealth and strut around drunk with power they never earned. Shame on such hypocrisy.

We must stand up more than ever for the great freedoms we have long enjoyed for we are about to lose them.

Hebrews 13:13 says, "Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach."

Be encouraged. Colin

The "box" represents the ways of human wisdom. People who think outside the box have taken time to think wisely about what is in the box. If what's in the box takes us away from the time-tested truths of God's Word and the godly foundations of our national constitution, it would be wise to get out of the box as quickly as possible.

Parents who homeschool have considered what's in the box of public education and they dare to be different. State schooling conforms to humanistic society and the box is getting dirtier by the day.

Parents who make the wise decision, based on Scripture, to have the children God wants them to have, dare to be different. They have considered what's in the box of popular opinion that believes that one or two children is enough. They understand that this box is full of selfish, non-sacrificial foolishness that will not build nations, but rather destroy nations.

Husbands and wives who fear God and want to keep their marriage together have to think outside the box of much marriage counseling. These days divorce is quite okay inside the box.

Romans 12:1-2 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. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

To be continued.

Be encouraged. Colin

God is looking for men who are not afraid to think outside the box, men who are wise enough to realize that thinking within the box is often the wrong way to think.

We have all heard the maxim, "When everyone is going east, go west, my son." Mankind is afflicted with a weakness to follow the crowd. It gives them comfort and security.

Communism swept through Eastern European in the 20th century and the shaking fists of working crowds joined in. Soon the shouting crowds became millions who believed an ideology that turned all Eastern Europe and much of Asia into being dumbed down and repressed by oppressive headstrong regimes. Crowds of Germans followed Hitler's drumbeat of aggression and world dominion, slaughtering millions of Jews and others whom he deemed as expendable.

The truth is that the further we stray from God's truth, the more open to deception we become. This is the grave danger we face in 21st century America.

More coming. Be encouraged. Colin

When Jesus shared about His father, He stated, "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand."

And again in Psalm 2:7-8, "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession."

Fathers need to be big-hearted toward their children. This does not mean we should spoil our children, catering to all their wants. Rather, every child should have a father who is frequently expressing His love to them. This is being big-hearted in expressing love.

Every child needs a father who not only expresses his love, but also confirms his love by meeting his child's needs. This is being big-hearted in deeds of love. Some men say it is not necessary to tell their children regularly that they love them. It should be sufficient to provide for them. Others say that all they need to do is to daily tell their children they love them and that should be enough. The above Scriptures include both, speaking love and giving love.

Fathers, our heavenly Father is not mean and tight-fisted toward His only beloved Son in whom He was and is well pleased (Matthew 3:17). This sets a standard of big-hearted love that applies to all of us who call ourselves fathers.

Be encouraged. Colin

2 Corinthians 8:9 says, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."

Big-hearted men and women are the greatest influence for good in the nation. There is no natural resource greater than God-inspired big-heartedness. It can change the world.

Do people around you know you as a big-hearted man? If not, why not?

Big-heartedness is not necessarily something you are born with. I think it is rather something that's imbibed or received from big-hearted parents.

Big-heartedness is a great influence for good. If one grows up in a mean, tight-fisted environment, they will be influenced the same way. Whole nations can be small-minded, inhospitable, mean, and selfish because they have been influenced this way by negative parents and national leaders. What a tragedy.

On the other hand, entire nations can be known to be big-hearted and generous. Having come from a foreign country, I can say that this nation of USA is well-known for its big-hearted and generous spirit. Long may this attitude continue.

It is a fact that following a revival or awakening that whole areas, cities, and nations become big-hearted and generous. England, USA, and other European countries sent forth missionaries, opened orphanages, hospitals, and schools all over the world.

Be encouraged. Colin

IF YOU WANT TO BE BIG ABOUT SOMETHING IN LIFE, BE BIG-HEARTED!

Big-hearted men will be big-hearted in all their ways. They will be big-hearted towards their wife and family. To be big-hearted is not limited only to finance, although men with small hearts are usually tight with their money, whether they have a little or a lot.

There are many ways to show big-heartedness than just finance. Good attitudes are the most important virtues of big-heartedness for they bless people around you much more than cold cash. When there is not much (or even nothing) to smile about, a big-hearted man will still offer a loving and hopeful smile which makes all the difference in the world.

A big-hearted man will always encourage his wife. I think wives need encouragement most of all. Often their day by day toil at home can be exhausting and challenging as they deal with the immaturities of children and teenagers, as well as common health issues. To have a big-hearted husband who is BIG on encouragement can make their mothering career worthwhile.

Be encouraged. Colin

Jonah was dragged his feet when God told him to go to Nineveh and proclaim God's pending judgment. Jonah's heart was not big enough to rejoice when the king and the city repented. Jonah's heart was not enlarged with compassion for the poor sinful lost souls of Nineveh.

Unlike Abraham who interceded for wicked Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:23-33) and Moses who interceded for Israel when God threatened to wipe them out (Exodus 32:1-35), Jonah's heart desperately needed to be enlarged.

"But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry. And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil" (Jonah 4:1-2).

How reticent and reluctant much of the church has been to go to places that are evil and lost to warn them to repent. Like Jonah, we have a lot to learn about God's love for fallen man. Indeed, our hearts desperately need enlargement. "Then said the Lord... And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand: and also much cattle?" (Jonah 4:10-11).

Men, there are right now multitudes of cities just like Nineveh in this world, cities who desperately need someone with a big enough heart to go and tell them of God's great love to save them before judgment falls and they perish.

Men, have you got your running shoes on?

"I will run the way of thy commandments, when that shalt ENLARGE my heart" (Psalm 119:32).

Be encouraged. Colin

"I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt ENLARGE my heart" (Psalm 119:32).

Men, the closer our hearts get to God, the bigger they will be. If we are tight, insular, and self-entered, we have not really discovered the love of God's great heart and need to pursue a closer relationship with Him.

Having a large heart will cause us to run to do His commandments. We will not drag our feet to go where He wants us to go.

Question: Am I running with enthusiasm to do His will?

Be encouraged. Colin

More tomorrow on this subject.

"And there were two thieves crucified with him" (Matthew 27:38).

"And he made his grave with the wicked" (Isaiah 53:9).

Big-hearted men are men who do not hold grudges towards those who have messed up and fallen in life. Honestly men, where would any of us be if God held grudges like some of us do towards each other's faults and failings? Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we should be big-hearted towards sin, for that is compromise. But, we must be big-hearted towards sinners in order to lovingly draw them back to God.

May God save us from our self-righteous attitudes towards sinners which can hinder the loving heart of Christ who died to save them. Jesus Christ was willing enough to die between two thieves in order to save them. That was not a coincident. It was a statement in order to save them. Now, that is being big-hearted, is it not?

How far are we men willing to go to save thieves, adulterers, etc. Honestly men, condemning  sinners and criticizing drug addicts, alcoholics, and perverts might make us feel more godly, but is it really godly? Keeping our distance from them won't get them saved.

Big-hearted men are more than willing to give sinners a second chance, or even "seventy times seven" chances that Jesus spoke about in Matthew 18:22. We may not trust them, but we must forgive them, Big-heartedness will often necessitate that our shoes will get a little dirty in order to win the lost or restore the fallen back to God.

Be encouraged. Colin

We must, by the grace of God, have our hearts changed from being self-centered men who are primarily taken up with our own comforts. Even the comforts of our family can be self-centered and far too tight and restricted for the great heart of God who so desires to bless others in their state of need.

Some may say, "Charity begins at home." Yes, that is true. Charity does begin at home, but it does not end there! God "so loved the WORLD." Not just the home. Not only Israel, although He has a special love for Israel which we will soon see displayed.

I believe that the great big loving heart of God that beholds the poverty and pain of so many in this world must be grieved by His own people's narrow mindedness and self-centeredness. I believe that God has ordained that all the human suffering in this world should be relieved and overcome by the intercessions, prayers, and love-giving of His people. In a way, God has divinely, although not entirely, limited Himself to the prayers and intercessions of His people.

God's people are called to be gap-standers (Isaiah 59:16; Psalm 106:23; Ezekiel 22:30), binders and losers (Matthew 16:19; 18:18), and intercessors (1 Timothy 2:1). In some cases, when God looks for His people's involvement but finds none, He acts sovereignly. But, His judgments may be tempered, even averted, by His people who have hearts big enough to be involved with the painful needs of this world.

Be encouraged. Colin

I believe that one of the greatest purposes for our lives on this earth is to be a blessing, to God and to our fellow man. It is a wonderful thing to hear it said of some woman that "She is really blessed to have a husband like that!" In other words, her husband is loving, caring, devoted, and kind. The truth be known, this should be said of all of us.

The same should be said about our fathering, "Isn't that child blessed to have a father like that!" In other words, the child's father is wise, understanding, caring, loving, and giving. These words should be said of all fathers.

If we really want to be a husband who truly blesses his wife, we should begin right now to devote our life to make this happen. If we want to be a father who greatly blesses his children, we should seek with all our heart from this time forth to devote ourselves to pursuing this end.

Acts 20:35 says, "Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Men who bless, and are blessed, are men who are givers. They give themselves to serve, to love, to say good things, and to encourage their wife, children, and others. They are so taken up with giving, that they never think about receiving.

Be encouraged. Colin

David exclaimed in Psalm 16:2-23, "O my soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight."

Each one of us have been born into this world to be a channel of blessing. As a child in my mother's Sunday School class I remember singing the hymn...

Make me a channel of blessing today,
Make me a channel of blessing I pray,
My life possessing, my service blessing,
Make me a channel of blessing today.

The root meaning of the Hebrew word, "bless" means "to kneel, to bow the knee." We bless God by kneeling before Him in adoration. In a sense, when God blesses us, He bows His knee in love and kindness toward us. We do this too when we attend to a plant we have planted in our garden. We bend the knee to fertilize and water it. We look at it and bless it.

Deuteronomy 28:1-14 speaks of God blessing those who obey Him. These Scriptures are packed full of the most amazing blessings for both individuals and nations. All who earnestly seek to lovingly obey Him have the right to claim every one.

Jesus Christ, in is blessings can flow. This is His primary way of blessing. The truth is, according to the measure we bless others, we will be blessed.

Husbands, abundantly bless your wife. Fathers, abundantly bless your children. Men, seek earnestly to find ways to bless others, even when they don't deserve it.

Be encouraged. Colin

How thankful and grateful we should be that the God we serve is a God who loves to bless all His creatures, especially those who seek to follow Him.

I am sure that most of the prayers that Heaven receives day after day, year after year, even from the beginning of time, are prayers requesting God to bless. We all know that no matter how difficult our situation, God is more than able to bless us with deliverance and divine help.

When you pause and think of the multitudes of people who are calling on God every day and the millions of individual needs, whether small or great--from a toothache to a broken back, from a sore throat to a serious case of pneumonia, from the need of a few hundred dollars to pay the rent to several million dollars to save a business from failing--our God is more than willing to bless and supply all our needs.

I think that if Heaven is divided into departments, the blessing department would have to be the biggest of all. Perhaps the main reason why we love God so much is that He loves to bless us, despite all our failures.

Men, do you think that we who are created in God's image should also be big on blessing others? Just like our Heavenly Father?

Be encouraged. Colin

Faithfulness gives victory in battles.

Revelation 17:14 says, "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and FAITHFUL."

Men, when it comes to overcoming the enemies of the Lamb of God, one of the three requirements is faithfulness. If we want to be victorious in overcoming the many battles we face in life, we cannot possibly succeed on our own. We need the company of the Lamb. "And they that are with Him" and "the Lamb shall overcome them" the Scripture says.

The Lamb speaks of His meekness, humility, innocence, and faithfulness. Isaiah 53:7 describes him, "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth." These character qualifications are also necessary for us in order to overcome the evil one.

Relation 19:11 says, "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war." The world does not understand lambs winning wars. Neither did Goliath with David. And guess who won? David.

Be encouraged. Colin

"Easy believism" could well be the greatest deception of the Christian church!

Psalm 116:10 says, "I believed, therefore have I spoken." This Scripture is repeated again in the New Testament in 2 Corinthians 4:13.

Men, I believe that faith without confession is just a lot of religious humbug. It counts for nothing. Bread is not bread until it is baked.

John 12:42-43 tells us, "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." I believe that their failure to confess Jesus revealed that they did not have saving faith at all. Their so-called belief in Christ was not sufficient to make them faithful to confess Him before their fellow men.

"Easy believism" could well be the greatest deception of the Christian church. It's okay to divorce one's spouse because of so-called "irreconcilable differences." What a cop out! It's okay to cheat on your spouse? No, it is not! Where is the faithfulness in that?

Faith without faithfulness is part of the broad way that leads to destruction.

Men, it is definitely not my desire to sound judgmental, for it is the grace of God that leads us to repentance, but repent we must for this sloppy, mushy thing we call the 21st century church.

Be encouraged. Colin

Men, the opposite of faithfulness is faithlessness. Now here is something to really think about.

I believe that one of the reasons why Christianity is so weak and ineffective in this 21st century, compared to the Christianity of the 1st century early church is that today's church has separated faith from faithfulness. And what do we have left?

• Faith without fullness.
• Faith without works (James 2:20).
• Faith without commitment.
• Faith without adherence.
• Faith without Christian discipline.
• Faith without following.

When Jesus saw Simon Peter and Andrew casting their nets into the sea, He said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him" (Matthew 5:18-22). This is faith with commitment. This is faith which is legitimized by following.

In the Greek, the two words "faith" and "faithfulness" are the same, "pistos." Check the Strong's concordance 4102 and 4103.

Each one of us will have to give an account to God as to our faithfulness. In this dark hour God is calling for men who are like Himself, created in His own image. A big part of this image is FAITHFULNESS.

Revelation 3:14 says of Him, "These things saith the Amen, the FAITHFUL AND TRUE witness."

Be encouraged. Colin

We love to sing the amazing hymn, "Great is Thy faithfulness." It seems a pity to me that the same words cannot always be sung about us men who profess to be His followers. And yet, the great faithful One dwells within us (1 Corinthians 3:16). What a paradox!

Men who profess Christ should be faithful in every area of their lives. God is calling for faithfulness in marriage, fatherhood, business deals, employment, prayer, and reading the Word of God. A man's word should be his bond. It should never be said that a Christian man cannot be trusted to keep his word.

One cannot be faithful, and at the same time go back on his word. It is wrong that politicians do it all the time. In some cases, they are respected by men, but they are certainly not respected by God. And in the end, they will have to answer to Him.

All stewards must be faithful. This is a number one requirement. 1 Corinthians 4:2 says, "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."

Stewards are household managers. They are in charge of all the affairs and servants of the house or estate and are answerable only to the owner.

Men, we are steward of our body which is the house of God. We are also steward of our families that belong to God.

Be encouraged. Colin.

Christian men should be the kindest and most gracious men on the planet earth today.

A big powerful guy who can play a great game of rough football should also be a very kind man to all who know him. It would be wrong for a physically strong man to use his strength to bully and be roughshod with his fellow man. All men, whether weak or strong physically, should be known by all, including their wife and family, to be gracious and kind.

Manliness should never be used as an excuse to be mean and abusive to any one, especially to women (mothers, wives, and daughters). The Son of God may not have looked stronger physically than the average man, but He was not short on power to raise the dead, cast out strong devils, give sight to the blind, and hearing to the deaf. He was a real man in the fullest sense of the word.

I do not agree at all with those who paint Jesus as feminine, or who preach a feminine Jesus. A man does not have to be physically strong to have authority. Jesus had authority to rebuke the wind and the waves and to bring forth Lazarus from the tomb. Yet, He was full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 says, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH."

If Jesus Christ lives in us, should not we also be full of grace and truth?

Be encouraged. Colin

Men, we should never equate graciousness only with femininity. It is wrong for us men to think that only women should be gracious and that men are to be rugged and tough and what we equate with real masculinity.

Talking of Jesus, Luke 4:22 says, "And they wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth."

While toughness and roughness tend to exemplify the masculinity of our nature, it must be kept in balance. To be continued.

Be encouraged. Colin

Christmas is all about loving and giving.

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." 

Scripture reveals what the cradle of Bethlehem was all about. God never intended that loving and giving should be only demonstrated annually at Christmas. Christmas giving should only be the ICING ON THE CAKE.

May God open our eyes to the full revelation of becoming men who know and practice the love that causes us to be the greatest givers at ALL TIMES.

Be encouraged, Colin