The HANUKKAH celebration begins tomorrow evening. Hanukkah is usually celebrated around Christmas, but for the first time in 125 years it coincides with Thanksgiving. As a family we love to celebrate Hanukkah each year. This is why we like to do it.
1. Hanukkah in the Hebrew means "dedication." God's temple had been desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 BC but the Maccabees family led a revolt against the Seleucid armies and called the nation back to God. After they had driven them out of Judea and Jerusalem, the Maccabees consecrated and rededicated the temple. However, God no longer lives in a temple in Jerusalem, but lives in the temple of our hearts. We like to use Hanukkah as time to rededicate the temple of our lives to holiness and the service of the living God.
2. It is a celebration that Jesus celebrated (John 10:22-23).
3. It is also called the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22) and the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the re-lighting of the Menorah in the temple and how the light kept burning even when they didn't have enough oil. Because this celebration remembers the relighting of the menorah, we read Scriptures about God who is the light and how He also wants us to be His light in this world. We do this at our Family Devotions each morning and evening. We look forward to it every year.
If you would like to read these wonderful Scriptures with your family, I will post them below for you to print out. Feel free to use the Scriptures in the way that best fits your family. For each day, you may like to take half the Scriptures at Family Devotions in the morning and the other half in the evening. If you have older children, it's a lovely idea for each one to have their own Bible and give a Scripture for each one to read aloud--and to share what they feel God is saying through the Scripture. If you have little ones, you may only want to take one Scripture from the list and talk about it.
And don't forget to ask your children questions as you read the Scriptures. This is how you learn and receive enlightenment from the Scriptures together.
I will also send out a post each day telling you a little story or a revelation from the Scriptures about the meaning of Hanukkah. By the way, you may like to take time to read the history of the Maccabees in the Apocrypha. The books in the Apocrypha were not chosen to be part of the cannon of Scripture but the books of Maccabees, 1, 2, 3, and 4 are great historical reading and tell of how the Jewish nation was saved from extinction. I am sure God used these brave men to protect His people and also the coming Messiah. No wonder Jesus celebrated Hanukkah. I have some Bibles that contain the Apocrypha: King James Version with Apocrypha, The New English Bible, World English Bible, Knox Version, and The Jerusalem Bible. You can also get it from the Internet.
Usually Hanukkah is celebrated around Christmas time. This year Hanukkah starts tomorrow. Officially it begins at sundown, Wednesday 27th November, the day before Thanksgiving. The last time this happened was in 1888, before the date for Thanksgiving was changed to the day we celebrate now. And it won’t happen again for 77,000 years! Amazing!
SCRIPTURES FOR YOU TO READ EACH DAY TO YOUR FAMILY FOR THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Day 1
God is the Source of Light and gives Light
Genesis 1:3-5
Exodus 27:20-21; 40:24-25; cf. Leviticus 24:1-4; Numbers 8:1-3
Exodus 13:21; Nehemiah 9:12,19
Psalm 36:9
Psalm 104:1-2
1 Timothy 6:16
James 1:17
Day 2
Jesus is the Light of the World
Isaiah 9:2, cf. Matthew 4:12-17
Luke 1:76-79; 2:27-32
John 1:4-9,cf. Job 18:5-6; Proverbs 27:20
John 3:19-21
John 8:12
John 12:44-46
Acts 26:22-23
Day 3
Shine the Light of Jesus to the world
Proverbs 4:18
Isaiah 58:6-8, 10
Isaiah 60:1-2
Matthew 5:14-16
Luke 12:35
Philippians 2:14-15
Day 4
God's Word is our Light
Ezra 9:8
Psalm 19:7-11
Psalm 119:18, 105, 130
Proverbs 6:20-24
Ephesians 1:17-18
Day 5
Walk in the Light
Psalm 89:15
Isaiah 2:5
Romans 13:12-14
2 Corinthians 4:4-7
1 John 1:6-9
1 John 2:8-11
Ephesians 5:8-20
Day 6
Out of Darkness into Light
2 Samuel 22:29 (Psalm 18:28)
Isaiah 42:16
Isaiah 50:10
Acts 26:17-18
1 Corinthians 4:5
1 Thessalonians 5:5
1 Peter 2:9
Day 7
Living in God is to live in Light
Psalm 4:6
Psalm 27:1
Psalm 37:3-6
Psalm 43:3-4
Psalm 112:4
Micah 7:8
Day 8
God is the Light of Heaven
Isaiah 24:23; 30:26
Isaiah 60:19-20
Revelation 21:22-25
Revelation 22:3-5
Love from Nancy Campbell
Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs
We live in a hurting world with many bruised and broken people. You too, may have been bruised in your spirit by parents, your husband, or other people who have hurt you. I want to lift you up today. Jesus understands what it means to be bruised, because He was bruised for you (Isaiah 53:5). He is the One who heals the broken-hearted (Isaiah 61:1). If you are bruised and feel you cannot cope with life, remember that Christ wants to make you whole again.
Speaking of Jesus, Isaiah 43:3 says, "A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench." A reed is a weak and fragile plant at any time, especially a bruised reed. But, He will never crush you in your weakness. He will only heal you and make you strong. He will take you from being a crushed reed to be a sturdy "tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified" (Isaiah 61:3). He will make you as tall, strong, and enduring as the cedars of Lebanon.
What about the smoking flax? Is the fire that once shone brightly in your heart gone out? Or maybe it's barely smoldering. Will you let Him come into your life and stir up the smoldering flames again? He wants you to burn brightly for Him.
Because Christ lives within us by His Spirit, this should also be our attitude to others, too. Oh how easy it is to be a "bruiser." We can bruise our husband and our children with hurtful words. We can dampen the flame in their hearts by our careless and negative words. Oh may God help me. I do so want to be a healer and not a bruiser. I want to be an igniter of the flame and not an extinguisher. Don't you?
Love from Nancy Campbell
When raising our children, I would try to do something different at the meal table one night a week. One of the things the children loved was COLOR NIGHTS. For example, I would choose a colour and put up a notice:
“Tonight is RED Night
No admittance unless wearing something Red.
Supper at 6.00 p.m. Please knock before entering.”
I set the table with a red tablecloth, adding red candles, napkins, and centerpiece (red flowers if I could find them). I prepared red foods. There are plenty of foods from which to choose, e.g. beets, radishes, red beans, red hot dogs with tomato sauce, tomato soup, potatoes or rice colored with red food coloring, etc. For dessert you could have lovely red fruits such as pomegranates, blood oranges, cherries, strawberries, watermelon, or red grapes.
You can also purchase red paper plates and knives and forks, etc. I would often wrap a little gift (something inexpensive) in red paper and put it beside their plate. The children loved these nights and we tried every color of the rainbow!
Love from Nancy Campbell
Did you know that God wants your inner man to not only be strong, but MIGHTILY STRONG? The Greek word "might" is "dunamis" meaning "miraculous, abundant, powerful." It is the same word that is used when Jesus said, "But ye shall receive power (dunamis) after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." This happens by feeding our spirit with God's Word, but also allowing the Holy Spirit freedom to work in our lives. Nothing of God happens without the moving of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
Invite the Holy Spirit to freely work in you, in your home, and in the lives of everyone in your family. He wants to work in you mightily. He wants to work in each of your children mightily. Paul prayed that the Ephesians believers would be "STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT BY HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN" (Ephesians 3:16). The NLT says, "I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit."
Don't settle for a little strengthening, but be a family who are MIGHTILY STRONG in the inner man. Read also Colossians 3:10.
Love from Nancy Campbell
We are talking about building a strong inner man in our own life, and in the lives of our children. God never wants our inner man to lie stagnant or to die with starvation. He wants it to be RENEWED DAY BY DAY! That means it should GROW STRONGER EVERY DAY. What a great vision for our high calling of mothering. We are not only to think of caring physically for our children each day, but to minister God's life and food into them in order that their spirits will grow strong.
This is the need of this hour. Children growing up with strong spirits. Even though they may face hardship, difficulties, challenges, and even persecution, they will not be daunted. They will stand against all odds. They will not faint even in physical weakness.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 says, "For which we cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet THE INWARD MAN IS RENEWED DAY BY DAY. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; ;while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
More tomorrow. Love from Nancy Campbell
Tell me, what is half so sweet
As a baby's tiny feet,
Pink and dainty as can be,
Like a coral from the sea?
Talk of jewels strung in rows,
Gaze upon those little toes,
Fairer than a diadem,
With the mother kissing them!
It is morning and she lies
Uttering her happy cries,
While her little hands reach out
For the feet that fly about.
Then I go to her and blow
Laughter out of every toe;
Hold her high and let her place
Tiny footprints on my face.
Little feet that do not know
Where the winding roadways go,
Little feet that never tire,
Feel the stones or trudge the mire,
Still too pink and still too small
To do anything but crawl,
Thinking all their wanderings fair,
Filled with wonders everywhere.
Little feet, so rich with charm,
May you never come to harm.
As I bend and proudly blow
Laughter out of every toe,
This pray, that God above
Shall protect you with His love,
And shall guide those little feet
Safely down life's broader street.
~ Edgar Guest
Which do you think is the more important? The "inner man" or the "outer man"? Of course, we know the answer. Therefore, we must learn how to strengthen the "inner man." And teach our children how to have a strong "inner man."
We strengthen our physical body each day by eating three good meals a day, and often snacks in between! Wow, we sure look after our physical body, don't we? The outer man is forever saying, "Feed me... Feed me" and we give into its cravings too easily. But, did you know that your inner man cries out for food, too? Many times it is starving!
It takes work and preparation to feed the body, and it also takes EFFORT to feed the spirit, too. We have to put aside the laziness of the flesh and determine to take TIME to feed the "inner man."
As mothers we have a great responsibility to feed our children, not only physically, but spiritually. Just as we prepare physical meals, we must prepare spiritual meals. We must make time for Family Bible reading each day with our children, morning and evening. It reminds me of the confession of a great Chinese Christian who would say, "No Bible, No breakfast!" He wouldn't feed his outer man until he first fed his inner man.
Paul confessed, "I delight in the law of God man AFTER THE INWARD MAN" (Romans 7:22). His flesh didn't go after God's Word, but His spirit longed for it.
Is your inner man strong? Are you building strong "inner mans" in your children? Or, are they weak and starving?
More tomorrow. Love from Nancy Campbell
Some houses try to hide the fact that children shelter there,
Ours boasts of it quite openly, the signs are everywhere!
For smears are on the window, little smudges on the door,
I guess I should apologise for toys strewn across the floor.
But, I sat down with the children and we played and laughed and read,
And if the doorbell doesn't shine, their eyes will shine instead,
For when at times I'm forced to choose the one job or the other,
I want to be a housewife, but first I'll be a mother.
~ Unknown.
I am sure you take out the trash daily in your home. You couldn't imagine it piling up, could you? What a stink! I think we should have the same attitude toward "trash" that subtly seeps into our homes, don't you?
We have to have watchful eyes and hearts that are sensitive to anything that grieves the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit shows us something in our lives or in our home that grieves Him, we should deal with it immediately. Let's keep our homes clean before the Lord.
Love from Nancy Campbell
"She who can paint a masterpiece or write a book that will influence millions deserves the admiration and the plaudits of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters, whose influence will be felt through generations to come, whose immortal souls will exert an influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest of blessings of God. In her high duty and service to humanity, endowing with immortality eternal spirits, she is co-partner with the Creator Himself."
~ David McKay
When they dedicated the tabernacle (the dwelling place for God) in the wilderness, God told them to first sanctify it with the blood and the anointing oil. Moses had to splash blood upon the garments of the High Priest and all the other priests. He had to splash blood upon the altar and everything in the tabernacle. The blood pointed to the pure, spotless, blood of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who died for our sins. The holy anointing oil speaks of the Holy Spirit who wants to dwell in our hearts. God is a dwelling God who longs to dwell in our hearts and in our homes.
After the priests and everything in the tabernacle was cleansed, and they offered the sacrifices upon the altar, THEN THE GLORY OF THE LORD FELL. Read Leviticus chapters 8 and 9.
The same thing happened in Solomon's time when he built a house for God. It was after the cleansing with the blood and the sanctifying, that THEN THE GLORY OF THE LORD FELL. Read about it in 2 Chronicles 5:2-7:3.
The same principles applies to us as we make our home a place for the God to dwell. He cannot fill our homes with His glory until we FIRST CLEANSE AND SANCTIFY THEM. Every member of the home and everything in the home must be cleansed and sanctified by the power of the blood of Jesus and the holy anointing oil. Then, God can come and fill our home with His glory.
This is true revival- husbands and wives and children seeking the cleansing and sanctifying of their lives and homes. It is only then that people around will see that we are God's people. We have no power against the enemy in our lives while their is sin in our lives or in our homes.
Do you remember the story of when Achan sinned and took the garments, silver, and gold which he was forbidden to take? God said, "Get up, sanctify the people and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow, because thus says the Lord God of Israel: There is an accursed thing in your midst, O Israel: YOU CANNOT STAND BEFORE YOUR ENEMIES UNTIL YOU TAKE AWAY THE ACCURSED THING FROM AMONG YOU" (Joshua 7:13).
Do you have enemies you need to defeat? Do you want the glory of God to fill your home? Ask God to show you any sin in your home. Get rid of it. Pray for the cleansing and sanctifying of your home so God will delight to dwell with you.
Love from Nancy Campbell
This morning we read 1 Corinthians 1:9 in our Family Devotions, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." Can you imagine it? Called by God Himself. A Royal invitation. A divine invitation to walk in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
How below par we live. We grovel around in defeat and misery when we have a divine invitation to walk in fellowship with Christ. Jesus Christ not only died to save us from our sins, but He rose again to dwell in our hearts and live His glorious, victorious, superabundant life through us, right in our home and in our kitchen (John 10:10, Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27).
Back in my home country of New Zealand, many years ago, my father and his brother gave a shearing demonstration to the Queen of England when she visited our country. This was because my father originally designed the fastest way to shear sheep and was the World Champion Sheep Shearer in his day. The Queen was so impressed that she issued a Royal Command for them to shear before her again. As a family we were away on holiday and no one knew where we were. We decided on our choice of vacation as we drove down the road! Announcements came over the radio all through the country find the whereabouts of Ivan Bowen.
When they tracked him down and he heard of this Royal Command from the Queen, did he say, "Sorry, I'm on vacation. I haven't got time to do that for her and the Duke." No, he immediately left us to our own devices and off he went to obey the command of the Queen.
How much more should we obey the calling and Royal Command of our God who is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Forget living in your little hut of misery and defeat and answer the call to live in the mansion of the fullness of your life in Christ.
Love from Nancy Campbell
In yesterday's post, we talked about whether we are wilting, surviving, or flourishing in our home. God's will for you is to flourish. Here's some ways to flourish in your home:
F FLAVOR your home with joy, sweetness, and happiness (what a nice flavor)!
L LOVE every moment of your mothering (rather than dreaming of when these days will be over).
O OFFER your life as a living sacrifice (knowing that you save your life by losing it--Mark 11:35 and Romans 12:1-2).
U UNIFY your home by speaking peace into every situation.
R REVEL in the joy of mothering and nurturing the precious gifts God has given to you (knowing that your Employer is God Himself).
I INTENTIONALLY make positive things happen in your home (don't let the day lead you around in circles, but instead purposefully direct your day by the leading of the Holy Spirit).
S SANCTIFY your home daily with prayer, praises, and the washing of God's Word (Ephesians 5: 26).
H HEAP hugs and kisses on your husband and children.
Which one speaks to you the most?
Love from Nancy Campbell
Did you know that God's plan for you is to FLOURISH? And where does He want you to flourish? In your home. Psalm 128:3-4 TLB says, "Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, FLOURISHING within your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around your table as vigorous and healthy as young olive trees. That is the Lord's reward for those who fear him."
But, perhaps today, you feel like a WILTING plant. You feel "half dead"! Or, maybe, like some plants, you are barely SURVIVING. You get through each day, but only just! This is not God's plan for you. He wants you to flourish and bloom. I believe we can only come into the flourishing mode when we embrace our mothering role with all our heart. We know that we are in God's perfect will. No matter what the hardships and challenges, we face them with joy. We are not dreaming of some day when we will be through these mothering days. Instead, we live every moment to the full. Every moment is an abounding moment because Christ lives in you and His life in you is not wilting, but full of life and power.
Embrace your powerful calling of motherhood and the joy of your home and make every moment a God moment. Think, of yourself as a flourishing plant--blossoming, flowering, blooming, growing luxuriantly, thriving, increasing, enlarging, expanding, abounding, and shooting out (Isaiah 54:2-3)! This is God's plan for you. It is not a stagnant boring life, but fruitful and flourishing.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Dear wives and mothers, we have the great privilege and power to reveal God to the world. God has created us female to reveal a certain image of His character. He has chosen us to reveal His mothering and nurturing anointing to our families and to the world. He created us to be bear children. He created us to be mothers. As we embrace who we are, we not only fulfill our destiny but bring glory to our Creator.
On the other hand, we can mar the image of God in the world. We make our choice. Read the self-confessed words of one who chooses to dishonor the image of God. Naomi Goldenberg writes, "All feminists are making the world less and less like the one described in the Bible and are thus helping to lessen the influence of Christ and Yahweh on humanity. We women are going to bring and end to God. As we take positions in government, in medicine, in law, in business, in the arts and finally, in religion, we will be the end of Him. We will change the world so much that He won't fit any more."
May God save us from compromising and being sucked into society's image of womanhood which is the opposite to God's plan. Let's joyfully embrace our motherhood and femininity and bring more and more of God into this world.
Love from Nancy Campbell
We have now lived in USA for 22 years and are USA citizens. However, when I fly back to New Zealand (the land of my birth) and touch down on the tarmac, I exclaim, "I'm home." When I fly back to Australia where we lived for 10 years and still have family there, I exclaim, "I'm home." But, when I fly back to USA, I also exclaim, "I'm home!" And yet, none are my real home. My real and lasting home is the eternal realm.
David confessed in Psalm 119:54, "Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage." Whether you have lived in the same home all your life, or in many different homes, you are still a sojourner.
Since being married, we have lived in 11 different homes in four different countries (apart from lots of temporary residences along the way). You may have lived in more. But, don't worry if you don't have a permanent home, for you have God's permanent Word.
In whatever home you live, large or small, humble or mansion, make God's Word the delight and song of your home. It is your durability in the homes of your pilgrimage. Sing hymns or Scripture songs at your Family Devotions morning and evening. Sing with your children throughout the day. Play worshipful music and fill your home with the songs of the Lord. No matter what we are facing in your earthly temporary homes, God's eternal Word will see you through. It is always your strength, home, and comfort.
Matthew 24:35, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away."
Love from Nancy Campbell
We constantly need reminders don't we? It is so easy to forget.
Psalm 119:164 says, "Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments." How can we remember to praise God seven times a day? I think a kitchen timer is a great idea, which reminds me that I must purchase two or three more. In my house they disappear or break.
To respond to this Scripture I have worked out a plan (although I'll need my kitchen timer or I'll forget)! We start the day with Family Devotions after breakfast as so I'll wait until 10.00 am to set my first timer. Then 11.00 am and 12.00 pm. After lunch I'll set it again 2.00 pm, 3.00 pm, 4.00 pm and 5.00 pm. That's seven times throughout the day. And then we'll have Family Devotions after supper in the evening.
You may have to work it differently in your home as everyone has a different schedule. But, unless you work out your times, it won't happen! I love the way The Message paraphrases this verse, "Seven times each day I STOP and SHOUT PRAISES." We have to stop what we are doing to do it! But, remember, you are not stopping for more than a minute. Just enough time to praise the Lord for His goodness, and on with what you are doing. Include your children in this wonderful plan.
Psalm 107:8 says, "Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children o men!" Repeated three more times in this Psalm.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Above Rubies is now on Pinterest with beautiful pictures of mothers, babies, and family life. I know you will be encouraged.
There are currently 46 boards, so you won't be able to look at them all at once. Treasure a board in the evening when you have a moment to relax. As you get through them, I'd love to hear which is your favorite board.
Love from Nancy