Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

I thought I would share a devotion from Serene for you today, which I am sure challenges us all.

It is easy to become numb to the evils around us, for the very reason that they are all around us! We live in a fallen world, filled with the devil's perversions and all manner of abominations. But, can we still blush?

Dear friend, are you going through a trial that weighs you down? You find it hard to bear. I want to encourage you with God’s Word: “There hath no temptation (or testing) taken you but such as is common to man: but GOD IS FAITHFUL, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God has promised that He will enable you to bear it. He will make the deliverance or way out for you. He will help you to undergo the hardship. He will supernaturally enable you to endure it as you lean on Him. The Berean Study Bible says: “He will also provide an escape, SO THAT YOU CAN STAND UP UNDER IT.”

Unless we have been successfully indoctrinated by humanist and feminist dogma, it is inherent within us to love being at home. God created the first home, the Garden of Eden, to be ready for Eve when He created her. He placed her in her home, in the environment He intended for her destiny. The Hebrew for Eden means “delight.” We should delight to work in our garden and our home. It is our sanctuary to raise our children in this dark world.

We read in Micah 2:9 that God was indignant about women being taken from their “pleasant homes.” Most translations read, “The homes they love.” The Hebrew word means “delicate and delightful.” The mother brings softness and sweetness to the home. She creates the warm and loving atmosphere. Without the mother in the home, it is stark and cold. And once again, we have the word “delightful” relating to the home.

We tend to forget that God's Word is for all generations, and that includes our 21st century. God, who created mankind, designed and planned the way for us to live. And what is His plan? Marriage and family life. Because God planned it, it is the healthiest and happiest way to live. Sadly, we don't always see the evidence of this today, do we?

Why? Because people are too modern for God, even though He is the same, yesterday, today and forever! They think the "ancient paths," the principles God established in the very beginning, are too old fashioned for them.

What is the kingdom of God? It is the rule and reign of Christ in individual hearts, families, the church, and the nation. Does your home and family belong to the kingdom of God? You will know if you are at odds with the kingdom of Satan. God’s kingdom is opposite to Satan’s kingdom. Neither the two do meet. If we fit in nicely with the world, we better check carefully which kingdom we truly belong to. We can only belong to one or the other and belonging to God’s kingdom will not make us a favorite with the world.

Because Saturday was the 31st November, I read Proverbs 31. I love to read a chapter of Proverbs according to the day of the month. I was arrested by verse 25: “Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.” This clothing is not just talking about her garments, but the attributes with which she is clothed.

The interesting thing is that these two beautiful attributes, although used here to describe the capable woman, are actually used to describe God. How incredible that God’s attributes are can become our attributes. Of course, it is not anything of our own making. We are reminded in Ezekiel 16:14 that any beauty or glory we have only comes from God Himself.

Yesterday I wrote about having faithful children. Did you know the Bible also talks about raising DIGNIFIED children?

1 Timothy 1:4 (NASB) reveals that God doesn’t want unruly children, but dignified children. This Scripture once again talks to pastors and elders (but it applies to all parents): “He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity.”

God specifically encourages us as parents to raise FAITHFUL children. Titus 1:6 writes to pastors and elders that they must be men of unquestionable integrity who have “FAITHFUL children not accused of riot or unruly.” This is God’s standard for all parents, but a pastor who leads a flock, must of course hold up this standard.

The word “faithful” is pistos and means children who are “believers who hold to the faith, truthful, trustworthy, and faithful in all things.” The same word is used in the following Scriptures:

Are you currently facing an impossible situation? Can I encourage you to not look at the “impossible” situation, but to look to God? Did you know that the word “impossible” means nothing to Him. It’s not in His vocabulary.

What did Abraham do in the impossibly looking situation when God promised him a son? He was 100 years old and Sarah was ninety! It couldn’t happen naturally. Romans 4:20 says: “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith giving glory to God.” The ESV makes it clearer: “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.”

I talked with a mother at our Above Rubies Saskatchewan Retreat last weekend. She shared with me that she has given her oldest son the project of gradually writing out the whole Bible. He writes two chapters a day and at 12 years old is now up to Deuteronomy. She wants him to write the whole Bible before he is married. What a great blessing for his future life. Anyone want to utilize this idea? Sounds pretty good to me.

Love from Nancy

A mother talked with me over the weekend about what she does with their PRAYER CARDS for the family. Because she has children of varying ages, she writes very simple prayer needs on colored cards and more intense or political needs on white cards. The older children know to take a white card out of the PRAYER BOX and the younger children a colored card.

I thought this was a great idea and want to pass it on to you.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Don't forget to say something special to your husband today. And don't forget to say, "I love you." And don't forget to give him a hug and a kiss.

Do you want to be inspired today in your powerful role of mothering?

Check out these pictures of beautiful mothers and babies. Your heart will melt and you will be stirred again in your high and noble calling:

https://www.pinterest.com/abov…/i-love-motherhood-paintings/

Isn’t it amazing that many people would rather stake their lives on the temporary rather than the enduring? Many believers conduct their lives on the contemporary values of our modern society.

Jeremiah 6:16: “Thus saith the Lord, Stand 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.” What are these old paths we are to seek after? Doesn’t it seem rather old fashioned to ask after “old” ways?

Every marriage tells a story. What story does my marriage tell? What does yours? We first tell the story to our children for they perceive marriage as they look at us. Is it a sweet, loving story? Does it make them excited to be married? Do we show them a picture of the relationship of Christ and His church?

Is it a story of constancy that makes them feel secure? Do we tell them a story of God’s ways, showing them clearly the different roles God gives to husband and wife, father and mother? Do they see us functioning joyfully in our particular role? Hopefully they don’t see a blur, or our taking our husband’s role.

Yesterday we talked about rejoicing in the name of the Lord. However, to effectively rejoice in His name we need to KNOW HIS NAME. We can never know God fully for He is incomprehensible. However, in His mercy He chooses to reveal His attributes to us through His names.

To know and understand the names and attributes of God should be the greatest pursuit of our lives. Our knowledge of Him determines our walk with Him. And our walk with God determines the way we run our home and mother our children. Also, it’s only as we know God that we can reveal Him to our children.

Are you rejoicing today? “Help, I don’t have anything to rejoice about,” you exclaim! Sometimes you can feel like that when everything goes wrong, insurmountable problems confront you, or you feel just plain lousy.

However, Psalm 89:16 inspires us: “IN THY NAME shall they rejoice all the day; and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.” It is true that you can’t always rejoice in your circumstances or what is happening in your life, but you can rejoice in the name of the Lord. His name never changes. It is always constant. His name is holy. It is awesome. It is glorious. His name is Jehovah-Jireh--the Lord who provides, Jehovah-Rapha--the Lord my Healer. The name of the Lord is a strong tower into which you can run. And on and on.

Do you use a Prayer Box in your home? We find it a wonderful blessing. Did you know you don’t have to be limited to only one Prayer Box? You can make up more than one for different subjects. You can then alternate them each week. Here are some ideas for different Prayer Boxes you may like to have in your home.

OUR FAMILY PRAYER BOX

On your prayer cards, write the names of each member of your family, plus extended family.

OUR WORLD CHANGING PRAYER BOX

Write on your prayer cards the needs in our nation, international needs, missionaries you are praying for, and current needs that require prayer. Look up this link to get ideas to pray for the needs of the world: http://tinyurl.com/IdeasForPrayerCards

OUR CHURCH FELLOWSHIP RAYER BOX

Going through my cupboards the other week I found this very box which we used for some time. Write cards of the different families in your church who need prayer and encouragement.

OUR PERSECUTED CHRTISTIANS PRAYER BOX

This is such a powerful and biblical Prayer Box to use. There are so many countries persecuting Christians that it is hard to keep up with all the needs of the persecuted church around the world. The persecution of Christians in the 10/40 Window has increased by 400 percent over the last 10 years. That’s why it’s great to have a box especially designated for the persecuted church.

Your box will be fat with cards, especially if you write in every one of the 60 countries who persecute Christians. Then you have specific needs happening to those who are being persecuted. Don’t forget North Korea which is the most persecuting country of Christians in the world.

And how can we not pray every day for what is happening in Iraq and Syria where they face beheadings, rapings, and cruelties beyond measure.? No wonder Hebrews 13: 3 tells us to pray for them as though we were in prison with them and to feel their suffering as though we were suffering their pain in our own body.

Here is a link to give you more information about the persecuted church:
http://www.worldwatchlist.us/world-watch-list-countries/

OUR 10/40 WINDOW PRAYER BOX

The 10/40 Window is the rectangular area of North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia approximately between 10 degrees north and 40 degrees north latitude. These countries include the majority of the world's Muslims, Hindus, and Buddhists--a high percentage of the least evangelized and unreached peoples with the Gospel.

These countries include: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan
Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Brunei, Burkina Faso
Cambodia, Chad, China, Hong Kong China, Macau
Djibouti, East Timor, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia
Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel
Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan
Laos, Lebanon, Libya
Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Morocco, Myanmar (Burma)
Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar
Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria
Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam,
West Bank / Gaza, Western Sahara, Yemen

Wow! Do you know where all these countries are situated? What a great project to learn about each one gradually and add to your Prayer Box. It is such a great way for your children to learn about these countries and get a heart for missions at an early age. Not only a heart for missions, but a heart to pray for the lost and the unreached peoples of the world.

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PRAYER BOX

If you have a vision to reach out to your neighborhood, your community, and city, the best idea is to start with your Prayer Box. Put in the names of the families God puts upon your heart to pray for. As you pray for them, God will show you how He wants you to reach out to them. Maybe He will inspire you to invite them over for a meal to show them God’s love and what it’s like to live in a Christian home.

Get your children helping to make the Prayer Boxes you would like to use in your home--and also writing the cards.

Another good idea is to use pictures of people (missionaries, a certain person you are praying for to be saved or healed, the kind of people who live in a certain country and so on) and places (pictures or maps of the countries you are praying for), especially when you have young children. This helps them to pray more effectively.

May you be blessed above measure,

Nancy Campbell

P.S. More links to check out:
http://tinyurl.com/OurPrayerBox
http://tinyurl.com/RecommendedLinks
http://tinyurl.com/PrayerInTheHome
http://aboverubies.org/morning-evening-principle

Do 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).

Ephesians 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, and clean and keep your house in order you are doing GOOD things.