Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Let's seek to live thankful days rather than "moaning and groaning" days.

Ephesians 5:20 says, "Giving thanks ALWAYS for ALL THINGS unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Our home atmosphere all depends on our attitude.

Love from NANCY

In my post yesterday a couple of messages in the thread mentioned that sometimes Dad can take the place of Mom at home. I would like to lovingly address this. I believe that we should make all our decisions in the light of future generations. We dare not make any decision just because it seems "good" for the present, for every decision will affect generations to come.

Often it can be very convenient for the father to stay home because the wife can get a better paying job. However, just because she can earn more, does that make it right? God has created different roles for the male and female. He created the women to be the nestbuilder and the nurturer and nourisher of her children. A father can do this to a certain extent, but not with same anointing as the mother. He created the man to be the provider and the Bible tells us that a man who does not provide for his family is worse than an infidel (1 Timothy 5:8).

Of course, there are many husbands who work from home or who have home businesses. This is great and such a blessing to the whole family. However, the father will be doing his business, and as the children grow, maybe incorporating them into it. He will not be taking over the management of the home or the nurturing of the children.

There are some situations where the husband is finding it hard to get work. However, when the wife takes over his role, he will never be forced into the role God intends for him, and he will feel lesser for it. We bless our husband when we embrace our role and don't interfere with his role.

Society today blurs the roles and the differences God created in the man and woman. Both male and female are needed to reveal the image of God and we walk in God's perfect plan when we embrace who God created us to be. It is so easy for all of us to fall into the trap of living by "situational ethics." We do what we think suits us the best and what is most convenient at the time. Situational ethics may work well in the situation, but it may not be the truth.

The truth is not always easy to walk in, but we must do it for the sake of our family and the for the sake of future generations. Marriage and family life is disintegrating all over the nation because we are doing what we think is best for us. How much more will we degenerate with each succeeding generation?

We show to our children, and this includes future generations, God's perfect plan by the way we live. Our children have a right to grow up seeing their mother as the nurturer and nourisher in the home. They have a right to grow up seeing their father being the financial provider of the home. Our children imbibe God's way to live by watching us. God wants our children to see this distinction. It is healthy. And it is for the preservation of family life in this generation and the generations to come.

Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Love from Nancy Campbell

It is inherent within us to love home. Yes, I know there are many women who don't want to be home with their children and would much rather be out of the home. But, this is mental conditioning by our humanistic society. We are programmed this way through the media and the education system. It is not inherent.

As soon as Eve opened her eyes to life she was in her home, the God-ordained place for women to make a holy sanctuary for God and a safe nest to raise and train their children. Micah 2:9 GNT talks about women being driven from the "HOMES THEY LOVE." It goes on to say, "You have ROBBED THEIR CHILDREN OF MY BLESSINGS forever."

It is God's blessing for children to be raised with their mother in the home--and especially when the mother LOVES BEING IN HER HOME WITH HER CHILDREN. Children are robbed from their God-given blessings when they are left with alternative caregivers and taken away from the home.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Just as we are the sheep of God's pasture, so He wants us to tend and feed the little flock He gives to us. God sees it as a very responsible task. When He speaks to shepherds, He says, "I will require my flock at their hand" (Ezekiel 34:10). We do not tend and shepherd our children for our sake, but for God's sake, and He holds us responsible.

God warned the shepherds of Israel that they were feeding themselves instead of feeding their flock. "Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?" He asks in in Ezekiel 34:2.

We can be tempted to feed our own desires, our own selfishness, our own covetousness for material possessions, or our own career. But, God wants us to understand that our greatest career is to feed our flock.

That doesn't only meal to prepare meals for them, although that is important, too. Tending a flock means we care for our children body, soul, and spirit. This is full time ministry. It takes constant watching, guarding, and praying over our children.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

I have just posted about how we should respond to the elderly. You may also love to see beautiful pictures of older couples who are still in love.

Go to: http://www.pinterest.com/aboverubiesmag/i-love-older-couples-who-are-still-in-love/

It is a godly thing to respect the elderly, and yet we don't see this happening a lot in our society today. I believe it is important that we practically teach our children how to respond to older people. The following are 10 pointers for young people, and to help you teach your children. However, I will be grateful to hear other pointers from you. Please share.

1. Do not ignore them. If older people are in the room, always make an effort to speak to them. Do not only talk to your peers and forget about them

2. When you meet them, tell them your name clearly and shake their hand. When shaking the hand of an older person it is nice to place both your hands on their hand. This shows further endearment and honor because of their age. In some African countries they bow before elders. They did this in biblical times, too.

3. Address them appropriately. Do not call elders by their first name, but show respect and address them as Mr. or Mrs. unless you are told otherwise.

4. If you are sitting in a room when an elderly person walks in, immediately stand up to greet them. This is mandated in God's Word. Leviticus 19:32 says, "Thou shalt RISE UP before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord." The NET translation says, "You must STAND UP in the presence of the aged."

5. Speak clearly, articulately, and slowly when talking to the elderly. Do not mumble. Most older people are deaf and cannot understand the mumbling of many young people. They want to understand what you are saying, so make sure they can.

6. Look out for opportunities to assist them opening doors, helping them to walk steadily, or carry parcels or their bag for them.

7. Listen politely to what they have to say. Look in their face when you speak to them. God wants you to learn from your elders. Stay interested even when they repeat the same story over and over again.

8. Ask questions. When you ask questions about their life and what they have done during their life, you will be surprised what you will learn. Gain all the information you can from them for the time when come when that information will go to the grave and you won't be able to retrieve it. Get all the information you can now.

9. Think of kind things you can do for them. Ask if there is anything you can get for them. Ask if you can make them a cup of tea or coffee. Do special treats for them.

10. If your grandparents do not live close and you cannot visit them regularly, send letters and cards to them regularly. They long to hear from you. Don't deprive them.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

In Psalm 74:7 the temple is called the dwelling place of God's Name. God is synonymous with His name. Where He dwells, His name dwells. If God is filling my life, His name will be on my heart and lips. If we are allowing God to fill our home, we will be constantly praising, honoring, and lifting up His name in our home. We'll be talking about His name. We'll be praying in His name.

How much do you speak of the name of Jesus in your home? If there is no mention of Christ's name or of God's name in our home, we may have to question if He is really in our home?

Psalm 145 2 says, "Every day will I bless tee; and I will praise thy name forever and ever."

Love from Nancy Campbell

How many times have you stumbled and fallen? Don't despair. Proverbs 24:16 tells us that the righteous falls seven times, and yet rises up again. It's not the falling that counts, but the rising up again!

1 Samuel 2:4 is a wonderful promise, "Those who stumble find their strength reinforced" (NET). The NLT says, "Those who stumbled are now strong."

We become stronger with every battle we face. Even the great heroes of the faith started out weak, but their weakness was turned to strength (Hebrews 11:34).

Get up again today, dear mother.

Blessings from Nancy

There are so many hurting, lonely, rejected, and sad people all around us, aren't there? And all they need is a kind and encouraging word. I think of 1 Samuel 23:16 where Jonathan "went to David in the wood and STRENGTHENED HIS HAND IN GOD." We all need strengthening and encouraging. This is how we keep going as pilgrims on this earth.

Can you ask God to bring to your mind someone you can encourage today? Give them a call. Or write them a lovely card. You can text them, but there is something about a nice card with hand-written encouragement.

But, perhaps you feel need of lifting up yourself. Let me tell you a secret. The greatest way to forget your own problems is to seek to lift up someone else. As you reach out to bless someone else your own problems lighten.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

There's nothing more powerful than the family meal table. Sitting around the table together (and often including friends or lonely people) is never a waste of time. It offers opportunities for encounters with one another that you would not normally have. And best of all, encounters with God.

Jesus confessed of Himself, "The Son of man is come eating and drinking" (Luke 7:34). In fact, Robert Karris writes, "In Luke's gospel Jesus is either going to a meal, at a meal, or coming from a meal." Jesus loved to gather at the meal table. He still wants to come to your table and join you at your meal, too. Invite Him to come in. Acknowledge His presence with you. Make time at the end of the meal to open the Bible to listen to His words and spend time in prayer together.

These times will be the greatest strengthening times of your family life. You can't let them go.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

"What are you accomplishing with those little children in your home?" Have you been ridiculed by such words as these? David, who later became the great king of Israel was also derided by similar words. His father asked him to take food to his brothers who were engaged in battle with the Philistines and when he arrived he heard the challenge of the huge giant, Goliath to fight with one of the Israelis. No one was offering--except David.

However, David's brother scoffed, "With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness?" His brother didn't think he was doing anything worthwhile. But, he didn't understand the heart of a shepherd. A heart that is both tender and brave. Dear mother, you are also a shepherdess to your precious little flock. And let me tell you, your mothering is not insignificant, either. As David was out in the wilderness caring for sheep, God was preparing him to one day be King of Israel. In fact he chose him "from following the ewes great with young" (Psalm 78:71-72). God is also working greatly in you.

Why was David the one who was not afraid of the giant? Because out with those "few sheep in the wilderness" he was learning how to face the enemy! He slew a lion and bear with his bare hands. He was ready for this giant. You too, dear mother, face challenges and onslaughts from the enemy in your day to day mothering. But, you are learning how to overcome the enemy and how to have the victory. You are growing stronger in God each day as you shepherd your "few sheep in the wildnerness." More and more you will become a dangerous threat to the enemy.

The devil is scared of home-building, children-loving, devil-destroying mothers!

Be encouraged. Nancy Campbell

LOVE EVER GIVES,
FORGIVES,
OUTLIVES,
AND WHILE IT LIVES,
IT GIVES!
FOR THIS IS LOVE’S
PREROGATIVE,
TO GIVE,
AND GIVE,
AND GIVE!

Michelle is correct when she says love is the right way to live. But, it is not always easy. Sometimes our love is not reciprocated. Sometimes it is rejected. What do we do then?

One writer says, "If a little bit of love isn't effective, INCREASE THE DOSE!" A Chinese proverb says, "Don't try to put out the fire of a load of hay with a cup of water!"

In other words, the remedy for the ineffectiveness of a little love is MORE LOVE! Never stop loving.

Blessings from Nancy

They talk about a woman's sphere
As though it had a limit;
There's not a place in earth or Heaven,
There's not a task to mankind given,
There's not a blessing or a woe,
There's not a whispered yes or no,
There's not a life, nor death, or breath,
That has a feather's weight of worth--
Without a woman in it!

"A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired" (Proverbs 17:22 Msg).

I trust you have a good marriage. However, even a good marriage can get into a rut! God's will for you as one of His children is not to have a normal marriage, but a marriage that is exceedingly above the normal.

With the help of the Holy Spirit you can make this happen. What are the good things you are doing now? Begin to do them MORE abundantly, MORE frequently, MORE joyfully, MORE smilingly, MORE adoringly, MORE sweetly, and MORE passionately. Get out of the rut into a new realm.

Watch out what happens!

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Seven times in Psalm 119 it tells us that God's Word will revive us. The Hebrew word is "chayah" and is full of meaning. God's Word has power to not only revive you, but to rebuild, restore, repair, recover, refresh, renew, recreate, revitalize, replenish, reform, return, rearrange, redirect, retrain, refine, and yes, reprove you!

In the midst of your busy life you long for refreshing. You dream of having some time on your own, taking a relaxing bath, going out to dinner, or watching a wholesome movie, But, the greatest way to get refreshed is often our last resort. It is opening God's Word!

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

I believe it is important to pray that God will give us strength to face whatever is ahead, and especially for our children. We should be praying God's strength into them. We should be speaking God's strength into them. We should be pouring God's Word into them which will give them strength and courage to stand strong in this hour and in the years to come.

The following are the words of one of our favorite hymns, a prayer for strength and courage. It is written by Harry Fosdick and we sing it to the tune of "Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah." Copy the words and sing it together as a family with all your hearts.

God of grace and God of glory,
On Thy people pour Thy power.
Crown Thine ancient church’s story,
Bring her bud to glorious flower.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the facing of this hour,
For the facing of this hour.

Lo! the hosts of evil ’round us,
Scorn Thy Christ, assail His ways.
From the fears that long have bound us,
Free our hearts to faith and praise.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
For the living of these days,
For the living of these days.

Cure Thy children’s warring madness,
Bend our pride to Thy control.
Shame our wanton selfish gladness,
Rich in things and poor in soul.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal,
Lest we miss Thy kingdom’s goal.

Set our feet on lofty places,
Gird our lives that they may be,
Armored with all Christ-like graces,
In the fight to set men free.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
That we fail not man nor Thee,
That we fail not man nor Thee.

Save us from weak resignation,
To the evils we deplore.
Let the search for Thy salvation,
Be our glory evermore.
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
Serving Thee Whom we adore,
Serving Thee Whom we adore.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell
P.S. What line of the hymn speaks to you the most?

We belong to an unshakeable kingdom, a kingdom that will never end. If we belong to an unshakeable kingdom, surely we should be unshakeable, too. Unmovable! Unwavering. Steadfast. Resolute. Unflinching.

Unshakeable in our commitment to God and His unfailing Truth. Unshakeable in our commitment to building a godly family and dynasty. Unmoved by the deceptions all around us. Unflinching in our purpose.

Hebrews 12:28-29 says, "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire."

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

It is heartbreaking to see so many marriages falling apart today. Because marriage is God's design, Satan seeks to destroy it. He will try to destroy your marriage, too.

That's why we have to be vigilant, always watching for Satan's subtle inroads. He will bring deceiving and dissatisfying thoughts to your mind. Don't listen to his lies.

Instead, water, feed, and fertilize your marriage. And watch it grow.

1 Peter 5-8 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: whom RESIST steadfast in the faith."

Blessings from Nancy Campbell