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.

THEY BELONG TO YOU!

TheyBelongToYouDear fathers and mothers, although of course I am particularly writing to mothers. I want to remind you today (as you already know) but sometimes we need to be reminded that your children belong to YOU.
 
Well, first of all, they belong to God for He is their Creator and Designer, the One who uniquely and specifically created each one of our children. And there is not one child who is the same. Everyone is an intricate and unique creation of God. He is the One who has also planned their destiny from before the foundation of the world. God calls them “thy sons and thy daughters, whom thou hast borne unto me . . . my children” (Ezekiel 16:20, 21
 
But God entrusts them to YOU as parents. He gives you the responsibility to care for them and train them. He gives you the responsibility to teach them in His ways. Over and over again He not only reminds us, but COMMANDS us to teach His laws and His ways to our children and our children’s children "all the days of our lives.”
 
Deuteronomy 6:6-8 in the Amplified version reminds us how seriously we are take God’s command about teaching our children God’s truths: “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.”
 
Therefore, dear mother, you must not be intimated. Your children do not belong to the government. They do not belong to the public school system. They do not belong to another other organization. They belong to YOU. You are responsible for what they are taught. You have the last say!
 
Why would a God-fearing parent put their children in a public school where they aim to program your children in socialism and anti-patriotism. Most schools embrace common core teaching, the re-writing of history, the lie of white supremacy. They are tutored in the new words, phrases, and pronouns that are geared to change the thinking and ideas of this new gene3ration.
 
Did you know that Black Lives Matter has a school curriculum? Did you know that during the plandemic that even in Rutherford County, Tennessee, which is part of the Bible Belt of America, school officials asked parents to sign a form stating they would not watch their children’s on-line classes . I beg your pardon. They don’t want parents to know what they’re teaching!
 
You must know exactly what your children are being taught. And you will never know unless you are there. Why would you risk your children being brainwashed and taught lies? Nearly every student coming out of our schools and colleges today is ingrained in sextreme socialism, globalism, and climate change indoctrination.
 
It’s time to take charge of your children’s education. The rise or fall of America depends upon it. The rise or fall of Christianity in this nation depends upon it.
 
God has given the authority to YOU, dear parent, not the state.
 
Blessings,
 
Nancy Campbell
 
 
Painting by Simon Glücklich (1863 – 1943).
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RAISING SONS TO MATURITY

SonPlantsAre you raising your sons into maturity? Too many young men, even in their twenties, are still “little boys” today. Thy are not ready for responsibility. They are not ready for marriage. They are not ready to provide for and raise a family.
 
Do you notice that this Scripture says that our sons are “becoming great” even in their youth.
Prepare your sons for their destiny which means raising them to be men rather than keeping them “little boys.”
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FREELY GIVE

FreelyDear ladies, this Scripture also applies to our daily lives as mothers and wives.
 
How generously do you give to your husband? Freely and joyfully or grudgingly? When you are serving him? In the bedroom?
 
How freely do you give yourself to your home and family?
 
Love ever gives,
Forgives,
Outlives,
And while it lives it gives!
For this is love’s prerogative,
To give, and give, and give.
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CHILDREN ARE LIKE CAMELLIAS

camelliasI read this quote when raising my children and it has always been a challenge to me. It is so true that just as camellias bruise so easily so we can hurt the hearts of our children—a harsh and unkind word can be like a sword in their spirit. Brushing them off because we are too busy doing other things can cause rejection in their hearts. Ask God for His grace each day as you nurture and train these living and eternal souls that God has so graciously given to you.

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YOU’VE GOT TO WEAR IT

GotToWearItTitus 2:10 exhorts us to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.” It’s not enough to read the doctrine. It’s not enough to think about the doctrine. We must put it on like a garment and wear it. One commentary says it means to take precious jewels and arrange them in a way to show their beauty.
 
The New Living Translation says that when we adorn the doctrine that it “will make the teaching about God our Savior ATTRACTIVE in every way.”
 
God’s Word translation says that “then they will show the BEAUTY of the teachings about God our Savior in everything they do.”
 
When you make it your lifestyle to love and serve your husband you show the beauty of God’s teaching. When you embrace childbearing and your divine career to nurture and train your children in the home you once again show to the world God’s beautiful doctrine.
 
When you live a self-controlled and holy life, even in the midst of challenges and trials, you show forth biblical sound doctrine. Doctrine is something that must been seen and evident in our lives.
 
The big challenge this chapter reveals is that we either reveal the beauty of the gospel through our lives or we blaspheme the word of God (verse 5). We either attract people to Jesus or repel them through our actions.
 
We see the same theme in 1 Peter 3 where it tells us that a wife can win her unbelieving husband to the Lord by the manner of her life and without even a word being spoken.
 
Is your husband wooed to the Lord through your life? Are your children, and especially your older children, persuaded of God’s truth as they see your daily lifestyle?
 
How often do we do this? This Scripture says, “IN ALL THINGS.” In the little things of life. In the mundane things of life. In the difficult and trying times of life. When in your flesh you would rather “fly off the handle” but because “Christ is in you” you yield to His life instead of your flesh.
 
Let’s be those who reveal His beauty in our homes—to our husband and to our children.
 
“Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All his wonderful passion and purity,
O thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.”
 
Enjoy a blessed day in your home,
 
NANCY CAMPBELL
 
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HOW DO WE DO IT?

HowDoWeDoItMy Friday post was about BEAUTIFUL DOCTRINE. The Bible also tells us what we are to do about this beautiful doctrine.
 
1. WE MUST ABIDE IN THE DOCTRINE (2 John 1:9).
That means to live in it.
 
2. WE MUST CONTINUE STEADFASTLY IN THE DOCTRINE (Acts 2:42 and 1 Timothy 4:16).
We don’t just read about it but make it part of our lives. We don’t do it for a day and give up but persistently keep on each new day.
 
3. WE MUST TAKE HEED TO THE DOCTRINE (1 Timothy 4:16 and Titus 1:9).
We pay close attention to what we are to do.
 
4. WE MUST HOLD FAST TO THE DOCTRINE (Titus 1:9).
 
5. WE MUST DEVOTE OURSELVES TO THE DOCCTRINE (1 Timothy 4:13 and 5:17).
For how long do we devote ourselves? This Scripture says until the Lord comes!
 
6. GOOD WORKS ARE PART OF DOCTRINE (Titus 2:7).
 
7. MIRACLES AND HEALING ARE PART OF DOCTRINE (Matthew 9:35; Luke 4:31, 32; and 5:17).
 
8. WE MUST ADORN THE DOCTRINE (Titus 2:10).
 
That means we are to wear it. We put it on each new day. We will talk more about adorning the doctrine tomorrow.
 
Remember, all the above exhortations ae not some airy fairy things in the sky. No, they are down to earth. God calls sound doctrine embracing the nitty gritty of life—caring for our little ones, managing the home, doing the dishes and laundry, even doing the same thing day after day. You may not feel you are accomplishing great things but remember that little things add up to great things. Faithfulness in little things ends up with responsibility for greater things.
We reveal what beautiful doctrine is like when we plod on daily loving our husband, loving our children, and loving our home.
 
Be blessed today,
 
Nancy Campbell
 
 
Painting by Abigale Palmer
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COOKING IS A SACRED TASK!

CookingSacredTaskDon’t despise the time it takes to prepare meals. Every meal is another opportunity for dialogue, discussion, and interaction with your children. Think of how you can make every meal a special occasion. Think of how you can make every meal a love affair. Make your family meal times the most wonderful moments of every day.

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BEAUTIFUL DOCTRINE

BeautifulDoctrineDoes doctrine relate to us in our everyday lives? This last week I memorized 2 John 1:9: “Whosoever transgreseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” What a profound Scripture. It’s all in a nutshell. If we live in the doctrine, we are in Christ. If we don’t, we don’t belong to Him.
 
Often, we think of doctrine as a theological subject, but the doctrine the Bible talks about is practical, down to earth, and relates to our everyday lives. God uses four adjectives to describe doctrine.
 
1. SOUND DOCTRINE
 
Titus 2:1 says: “Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine” and then Paul exhorts Titus to tell the older men how to live, the older and younger women how to live, and the young men and servants how to live. It’s all to do with how we live. Also read 1 Timothy 1:10; 2 Timothy 4:3; and Titus 1:9.
 
2. GOOD DOCTRINE (1 Timothy 4:6)
 
3. GODLY DOCTRINE (1 Timothy 6:3)
And best of all . . .
 
4. BEAUTIFUL DOCTRINE
 
And ladies, this one relates to us women—and specifically in the home! It’s the doctrine God wants the older women to teach the younger women—to love their husbands, love their children, to be submissive to their husbands, and to be keepers at home! And yes, this is what God calls it—beautiful doctrine.
 
The older women are to be “teachers of good things.” The word is “kalos” and means “beautiful, valuable, goodness.” God says the doctrine of loving our husbands and children and embracing our home duties is a beautiful thing!
 
Dear mother, your life in your home is a beautiful life. Well, you may not feel that you are experiencing this, but often it is because of your own wrong thinking. However, when you EMBRACE God’s perfect plan of welcoming the children He gives you—nurturing, training, and caring for them, and doing it with joy—you will begin to walk in the beauty and fullness of this glorious life God has for you.
 
Enjoy your beautiful life today.
 
Love from Nancy Campbell
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OH, THE WONDER

TheWonder“I’m pregnant!” No, not me, although I still dream about it! But these are usually the words a mother will say when she sees the pink line! Actually, It’s not such a beautiful-sounding word, is it? For something so wonderful I am sure we could think of a better word.
 
What about “I’m gestating!” That sounds even worse.
 
I love the sound of “I’m wombing!” It reveals what is really happening. Of course, I don’t expect you have to use this word. It’s a little old-fashioned, but I love it.
 
What a beautiful thing to be wombing. When else does a mother have an excuse to have a nap in the afternoon? It’s time to dream of what her baby will be like.
 
It’s a time of wonder and apprehension for a first-time mother. But is it any less wonder for the mother of five, or six, or more? I think she understands even more the awe and miracle of the little life growing inside her—a brand new person who has never lived before and will never come to this earth again. She may have other children, but this is a new creation of God. What will he or she be like?
 
She may be waiting in anticipation for the surprise of whether it will be a boy or girl. Many don’t wait for this surprise today, but it is one of the surprises God loves to give us, just as all parents love to give surprises to their children What does Psalm 139:15 say? “I was made in SECRET.”
 
It is so exciting for a new mother to feel the first movement of life within her womb. Nor will an older mother ever get tired of the wonder of feeling life in her womb. What could be more amazing? There is nothing more exciting.
 
Are you blessed to be pregnant at this time? Enjoy your wombing? It is a powerful time of your life. It is more important that all the other things you could be rushing about doing. When you are asked to be involved in this and that, you can say, “I’m so sorry, but I am not available at this time. I’m wombing!”
 
It’s time to enjoy the wonder. It’s time to “cozy in” and prepare your “home nest” again for your coming baby. First time mothers, you will never be able to comprehend until the moment of birth the overwhelming love you will feel for your baby.
 
Second time mothers, you love your present child so much, you wonder if you could ever have enough love for another child. This is also the wonder. You will have even more love for this precious child. And each new baby that comes into the family causes the mother to love her husband and her other children even more. The mother who has many children overloads with more and more love for each individual in her family when a new baby is born. This is the effect of oxytocin and prolactin, the hormones that flood the mother when she is nursing her baby.
 
Oh, the wonder!
 
Love from Nancy Campbell
 
 
Painting by Grace Bailey
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DO YOU MOCK GOD'S PLAN?

HubbyWifeBookI am amazed at how people who say they believe the Bible take little notice of it. They tolerate homosexuality in the name of loving everyone. That sounds so good, and of course we love each person, but we cannot condone the act because it mocks God’s eternal plan.
 
God said: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him” (Genesis 2:18 ESV). Who was this helper? Was it another man? No, we all know that God created a “woman,” a “wife,” and a “mother” so together they could be fruitful and take dominion over the earth (Genesis 2:22-24 and 3:20). He planned for the woman to complement the man, not duplicate him. Any deviation from this plan is a smack in God’s face, the One who intricately designed and created us.
 
But THERE IS MORE yet! After God brought the woman to the man, He stated that “the man and the wife” (the two opposite sexes) were to become “one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). This Scripture is quoted again in Matthew 19:4-6 and Ephesians 5:31, 32 and it goes on to say: “This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
 
God lifts marriage to a very high place, far higher and more sacred than we understand with our human minds. He chose marriage to portray the oneness of Christ and His bride, the church. Notice that she is called His “bride” and “the Lamb’s wife.” (Revelation 19:6-9 and 21:2, 9). The marriage relationship reveals this picture of Christ and His bride to the world.
 
Christ is the fulfillment of the sacrificial lamb which always had to be a male lamb (Exodus 12:5) and the church for which He sacrificed His life is His bride.
 
To distort this picture is sacrilege.
 
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
 
 
Painting by Puuung
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MOTHERS ARE THE BEST TEACHERS

MothersTeaching

Mother, you are the best teacher for your children.

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THE WOMAN MAKES THE HOME...

WomanMakesHome“The woman makes the home and the home makes the woman.”
 
It is true that the home and motherhood are synonymous. A home without a mother is cold and lifeless. And a mother must have a home.
 
Thank God for your home. Enjoy your home. Make your home a place of joy and laughter, filled with the atmosphere of Heaven. Strengthen and build into your home and family each new day.
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CREATED, CHOSEN, & COMMISSIONED

CreatedChosenMotherhood is a powerful and influential career for good or for bad. We determine the destiny of nations and future generations. It is a full time career.

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FAMILY GATHERINGS ROUND THE TABLE

SettingTable

Don’t you love gathering your family around the table? The best times!

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MAKE A HAPPY HOME...

MakeHappyHome

...not a gloomy home.

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GUARD IT WELL!

GuardItWellMarriage is the first institution God ordained. It is for male and female only. It is sacred and holy. There is no alternative.
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ONE AND ONLY!

MillionWays

A good man doesn't love a million girls, he loves one girl in a million ways.

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WHAT ARE YOU BUILDING?

WhatUBuildingI have a dear friend who literally built her own home. Her husband worked full time and earned the money, but because she was at home with her little baby, she decided she may as well build the house. With the advice of her father and studying building books she did it! She built this beautiful five-bedroom two-storied home which she and her family continue to live in today. And now she is a grandmother!
 
Lois Jordan was the design artist for Above Rubies back in the beginning days, over 46 years ago! I would often call her down from the roof to do some art work when we were working on a new magazine.
 
I know there are very few women who would have the capacity to do what Lois did. She is not the ordinary person! But God says that women are builders! We don’t have to build a house with hammer and nails. We are building a family. We are building godly generations.
 
Proverbs 14:1 says: “Every wise woman builds her house: but the foolish plucks it down with her hands.” What are you putting your time into? Into building up someone else’s organization or business? Or are you building up your home? That takes being at home. It takes time to build up your home and family. It doesn’t happen by gadding about here and there,
 
What about your marriage? Are you building into your marriage? That takes time too. What are you speaking into your marriage? Loving words? Encouraging words? Sweet words? More than anything else we build our marriage and our family with words. Words either build up or destroy.
 
You can have the marriage you dream of if you build into it. Things don’t just happen; you have to make them happen. You have to build into it every day. Nail in encouraging and loving words. Embrace a serving spirit. Make your home a haven for him.
 
Let’s be builders, not destroyers.
 
Love from Nancy Campbell
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YOUR HOME IS A POWERFUL PLACE

HmPowerPlaceAn encouragement from Katie Crothers in England.
 
Above Rubies really opened my eyes up to the beauty and purpose of being in my home. Before this ministry, no one had ever broken it down and I confess I held onto the usual frustrations of not being “out there” firstly working, and then “doing” ministry because I was at home with children. How mislead I was!
Anyway, I have just finished the book of Acts, and was struck by 28:30 - 31.
 
"Then Paul dwelt two whole years in HIS OWN RENTED HOUSE, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him." (NKJV)
 
In this passage we see the Lord’s fullfillment of 23:11 when the Lord says to Paul he will also testify in Rome. Yet under what circumstances does Paul find himself delivering this promise of God to the biggest nation in the world? Under house arrest (28:16)! Paul, this shipwrecked, snake-bitten, synogouge preaching, publically beaten and widely travelled man brought the gospel to Rome FROM HIS HOME.
 
Arguably, now that the Gospel reached Rome (the centre of trade and government) it would spread across the world. Yet Paul never took the gospel to the streets of Rome. He didn't enter temples or trading ports. He stayed completely in his home for two years (28:30).
 
The word here is “meno” meaning “to stay, abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, stand, tarry.”'
And the scriptures go on further to state that he was “akolutos,” meaning unhindered. Other translations say “boldly without hindrance.”
 
What struck me is Paul could have gone out all over Rome but it was in the walls of a humble, rented dwelling that the Gospel reached Rome through Paul as he preached and taught. He certainly did not grumble at being home all day In fact, he saw it as a place of work and freedom.
 
And if the Lord sees the home a suitable place in which to place Paul to spread the gospel (in arguably the most impactful two years of his ministry) how much more should we be blessed to share the Gospel unhindered to those who come to us in our homes today!
 
May our homes have the impact for the Kingdom of God as Paul's “own rented house.”
 
KATIE CROTHERS
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Family Picture: Rob and Katie with their lovely children: Poppy, Heidi and baby Jonathan Henry.
 
(I was blessed to take a meeting in Rob and Katie’s home when we were ministering in England last year. Nancy).
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TIPS FOR HEALTHY PREGNANCY

Tips4HealthyPregTIPS FOR HEALTHY PREGNANCY (especially preventing miscarriage and preterm labor)
From Misty Marr
 
I’d like to share a few of the things I learned through facing miscarriage and preterm labor. These tips will be profitable for any woman who is endeavoring to have a healthy pregnancy!
 
1. EPSOM SALT
We've all heard of people going to the hospital and getting magnesium sulfate via IV to stop preterm labor. Do you know what Epsom Salt is? Magnesium sulfate!
 
Add 2+ cups Epsom Salt to a warm bath. A couple of drops of lavender oil is a great addition. Relax and soak. A half hour would be the minimum you would want to soak to start getting the benefits, but one to one and a half hours would be better.
 
2. WATER
Drink, drink, drink!!! Often, even slight dehydration can bring on contractions. Aim for a gallon of water a day. You can also make a weak pregnancy tea and then drink lots of it.
 
3. PROTEIN
Sometimes contractions are your body's cry for food. You should be proactive to get good protein in your system.
 
4. CALORIES
Do not restrict calories. Calories are energy and you will need all the energy you can get! Excessive calories are not the problem. The problem lies in the quality of the calories. Make sure every calorie you eat is benefiting your body.
 
5. HERBAL TINCTURES
There are many herbal tinctures that are good muscle relaxants. I like to have a variety and to mix-match what I have to multiply the benefits. These are the ones I use.
Singles: Cramp Bark, Back Haw, False Unicorn
Blends: Welcome Womb, Carry On Relief, Carry on, Cramp Relief
 
6. CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM (and other minerals)
These work together as a muscle relaxant and can help relax your uterus.
 
7. PROGESTERONE CREAM
If you already know that you are at high risk for preterm labor, or if you have a hard time carrying your baby in early pregnancy, you can start using a natural progesterone cream as soon as you suspect pregnancy.
 
If you are at risk for preterm labor, you should continue the progesterone until it is safe for your baby to be born. This could prevent the need for synthetic progesterone shots. The higher level of progesterone triggers your body into knowing that it is not time for the baby to be born.
 
8. FAT
High quality, healthy fats are essential. Some of these come in the form of supplements, and some are simply food. Unrefined coconut oil and butter should be staples in your diet. Cod liver oil and Omegas should be some of your most essential supplements.
 
9. RED RASPBERRY LEAF TEA
I like to make a blend of raspberry leaf tea, alfalfa, nettles, and peppermint leaf. This gives your body an infusion of bone-building minerals to help your little one develop. The raspberry leaf works as a uterine tonic preparing your uterus for labor, making it work more efficiently, and reducing contraction pain.
 
10. DON’T HOLD IT
When you need to use the bathroom . . . go! Don’t hold it. When your bladder is full, it puts pressure on the uterus and triggers contractions. It can also increase the risk of bladder infections.
 
11. INFECTIONS
Infections can cause preterm labor. If you are having early contractions, evaluate yourself for possible infections.
 
If you would like more information about my story and preventing preterm labor, you can check out my book:
 
“Lessons Learned: My Journey through Pregnancy, Miscarriage, and Preterm Labor.”
 
MISTY MARR
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Missionaries in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico
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Above Rubies Address

AboveRubies
Email Nancy

PO Box 681687
Franklin, TN 37068-1687

Phone : 931-729-9861
Office Hrs 9am - 5pm, M - F, CTZ