Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

In my last post, I talked about the importance of sitting down to eat. We noticed that even Jesus commanded the people to sit down before He fed them. Another thing Jesus was concerned about was not wasting food. After all the people were filled Jesus told his disciples to "Gather up the fragments that remain, that NOTHING BE LOST" John 6:12).

Most people live so affluently today that they don't seem to worry about wasting food. But, I have to confess that I hate to see wasted food. When we gather together for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Family Celebrations throughout the year, I usually give my little lecture to all the grandchildren before we begin the meal. "Now children, remember to only put on your plate what you can eat. You are welcome to come back for seconds, thirds, and even fourths if you are still hungry, but I don't want to see any food left on your plates! Look out if Nana sees any waste!" They are really learning and now, even with up to 50 of us at a gathering, I will hardly throw out any food.

We always encouraged this habit with our children when growing up. If they didn't eat what was on their plate, they kept it until the next meal. And yet, I see children today take whatever food they want from the table, and leave most of it! And they don't like this, and they don't like that--especially vegetables. Who is training them?

If Jesus didn't like waste, I don't think we should either.

Love from Nancy

I am a great believer in sitting down to eat! Is it my own idea? No, I get it from the Bible. In fact, I believe the Bible has the "last say" on anything we need to know.

On the whole, I don't believe we should stand up, or walk around while eating. We are not meant to do it "on the run." I believe that eating is far more than digesting food. It is a time to relax instead of work. It is communion and fellowship together. It is sitting around a table together.

When Jesus multiplied the food and fed the multitudes, He made sure things were done in an orderly manner. Matthew 14:19 says, "He COMMANDED the multitude to SIT DOWN on the grass..." In John's account it says that Jesus "distributed to the disciples and the disciples to those WHO WERE SITTING DOWN" (John 6:10-11). In Mark's Gospel he says that Jesus told them to "all sit down by groups" (Mark 6:39-42). I am sure this would have aided in the distribution of food, but also enabled them to fellowship together as they ate.

I don't believe that children should be allowed to eat whenever they like, or wherever they like in the home. I believe that we as mothers should order the home. We should make each meal time special where we all sit down together.

I love the picture God paints of a family that is blessed of the Lord, "Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young live trees as they SIT AROUND YOUR TABLE" (Psalm 128:3 NLT).

Love from Nancy

Proverbs 19:22 says, "What is desirable in a man (or woman) is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar."

God who is kind, looks for kindness in His people. In fact, everyone is looking for kindness. Our husband longs for kindness from us. Our children want us to be kind to them. A hurting world is looking for kindness.

This word "kindness" is actually one of the most powerful words in the Bible. It is "chesed" in the Hebrew and describes God's unchanging and relentless love to His people, even when they rebel against Him. It is that "love that will not let me go." It is loyalty, benevolence, and mercy, even to those who are unkind to us.

Proverbs 31:26 describes the virtuous woman, "In her tongue is the law of kindness." It's the word "chesed" again.

I am not into New Year's resolutions. They are so easy to break. But, I would love to have a goal of saying or doing something kind to someone every day. Wouldn't that make such a difference in our homes? Such a difference in society around us?

Our daughter, Mercy came home from the work the other day with a happy smile on her face. All because a customer took time to speak kind words to her. It made her day.

We can make someone's day every day. Will you be part of spreading God's kindness?

Remember, it starts in the home first!

Love from Nancy

Before the world began he was in God's mind,
A God who loves to create and is very kind,
He's the author of life and of destiny
And He already knows what He wants him to be.

What an amazing miracle--the birth of a child!
We stand in awe--and God has a smile!
He's created a life that's never lived before,
A life that is special, unique, with gift's galore.

He's a gift to his parents and a gift to the world
As we wait for his destiny to be unfurled.
He's a budding life that will come to full bloom,
And of course his parents are "over the moon."

But the greatest wonder of all that we see
Is to comprehend he was born for eternity!
He's not just a life, but an eternal soul,
Born to embrace a heavenly goal.

Oh the wonder, the privilege we have as a wife
To bring into this world an everlasting life!
Praise God for this privilege and praise
God for this babe Whom He has lovingly and intricately made.

Nancy Campbell

I was reading Titus 2:3-5 this morning where it gives specific instructions to wives and mothers. This seems a lot different to the lifestyle of many women in Christendom today. We obviously now have a new modern and humanistic version...

"The older women must teach the younger women to decide their own values, to demean their husbands and love their careers, to adapt to the ways of society around them, learn to juggle their careers with motherhood, be tolerant of others' lifestyles, and disregard submission to their husband. In this way they will effectively blaspheme the Word of God."

Don't you think it would be a good idea to frequently check what God's Word really has to say?

Love from Nancy

Don't you love to sit in a rocking chair and rock when you are nursing or holding your baby?

I think every mother and grandmother should have a rocking chair. Rocking is part of mothering, isn't it? Even if I'm not sitting in a rocking chair, I still automatically rock when holding a baby or little one. In fact, even when I'm standing I rock. And I even find myself rocking from side to side when I don't have a baby in my arms, it has become so part of me.

I found this little poem when I was a young mother and loved it...

A Swinging' Mom

She rocked me as a little tyke,
I happily recall,

In winter, summer, autumn, spring,
And never let me fall.

I've gotten where I am
(and here's A psychiatric shocker!)

Because I had a mother
who Was seldom off her rocker~!

Love from Nancy

In what is our trust? The arm of our flesh or the arm of God?

We so often resort to our own flesh, or our own arm, don't we?

In Job 40:9 God asks the question, "Hast thou an arm like God?" Why trust in our own flesh when God has promised to be our arm every morning (Isaiah 2:22)?

Isaiah 33:2 ESV says, "O Lord, be gracious to us, we wait for you. Be our ARM EVERY MORNING, our salvation in the time of trouble." God's arm speaks of His strength and might. How wonderful to wake up each morning and know that God is ready with His mighty right arm to watch over us and protect us.

With His mighty right arm He has promised to...

• Sustain me (Psalm 37:24; Isaiah 41:10)
• Strengthen me (Psalm 89:21)
• Lead me (Palm 139:10; Jeremiah 31:32)
• Hold me securely (Psalm 139:10)
• Hold my right hand (Isaiah 41: 13; 42:6)

What more do we want?

Love from Nancy

We wonder what awaits us in this New Year. I know there will be many joys, and yet many challenges--personally, nationally, and world-wide. How wonderful, that no matter what each one of face, we have a God in whom we can trust.

I was encouraged to read this morning in Jeremiah 31:11, "For the Lord has ransomed Jacob and redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he." What a great promise for Israel who are surrounded by enemies from Tunisian to Turkey who would like to wipe them off the face of the map.

But, God is able to deliver them from all the enemies that are stronger than them.

We too, may face situations that are bigger and stronger than we are! Be encouraged. God is stronger than your enemies. He is bigger than your difficulties. You can trust Him.

Let's go into this New Year trusting in our faithful God, rather than in our own answers and resources.

Love from Nancy

Did you notice the quote I posted from Daren Jonescu in my Saturday post? I find it very challenging myself. I'll type it again in case you missed it...

"Why do parents willingly (or reluctantly, for that matter) send their own children--their own future--to socialist reeducation camps? "From my cold, dead hands," they proudly say of their guns. Are not their children worthy of at least so strong a grip?" ... "A soul is a terrible thing to waste. A hundred million souls--now we are talking about the difference between desolation and hope."

If they take our guns, we are slaves. But, do we realize that the progressive agenda is stealing the souls and minds of our children as we ignorantly send them into indoctrination schools each day?

What kind of a grip do you have upon your children? Or, are you yielding their minds to the enemy of their souls?

Love from Nancy

My last two or three posts may sound quite harsh, But, oh they come from a heart that cries for our nation, for the youth of our nation, and for the generations to come. I am not speaking personally. I am seeing beyond this to national consequences. If we want to turn the tide, we have to be prepared for courage and sacrifice.

Some dear mothers say they don't have a choice but to send their children into an ungodly system. But, currently, we do have a choice (we may not have this choice forever!). We have to look at it either of two ways. What is best for my lifestyle? Or, what can I do to help save my children and my nation? In other words, am I going to do what is easiest for me? Or, am I truly aware of the current status of our nation?

Do I realize that there will never come any change in this nation while we send our children to be educated in progressive socialism that rejects God, prayer, and the Bible. A change of government will not change this nation. A new president will not change this nation. Nothing can change until the education changes. The nation becomes how it is educated.

Every God-fearing parent has to face this fact. Do we have a nation of courageous God-fearing parents who are prepared to turn their lives around? For that's what it will take. Parents who are ready for sacrifice and courage. Parents who are ready to forgo their pursuits to save a nation. Parents who are ready to take their nose out the sand and find out what is really happening. Do we have what it takes?

We had pioneers who were prepared for this. We had brave men who fought for our freedoms. What are we prepared to do to keep our freedom?

Perhaps we should not even be where we are today? Why did not every God-fearing parent take their children out of school when prayer was taken out of schools? Did they not care?

Why didn't every Christian parent take their children out of public school when the Bible was taken out of schools? Did it not concern them?

But, now there is nothing left of God in our state education. Does that affect us at all? Or, will we have the courage to rise up and take action?

If every freedom-loving, God-loving, Bible loving, prayer-loving parent took their children out of state education to either homeschool, church school, or private school, the whole system would be turned upside down. That would be the greatest thing that could ever happen to turn this nation around. And perhaps the only thing. Can we do it?

Love from Nancy

We know Jesus' words by heart, "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). But, it is not just truth that gives us freedom. It is KNOWING the truth. And this truth of freedom is divinely ingrained in us. Our souls cry for it. They burst open for it.

Because this inherent desire for freedom is God-given, it is another sinister ploy of the enemy to take it from us. Satan hates everything that comes from God. That's why we must guard it with all our hearts. God made each one of us sovereignly, uniquely, and individually. There has never been another person in the universe that is quite like you, and there will never ever be another to come! Each one of your children are also individually unique. God gives each one differing gifts in order to glorify Him. How amazing is our Creator.

And hence this desire for freedom, this desire to be who God created us to be. This is who we are by creation, and also, the privilege we have in this great nation of USA (unless we allow this freedom to be taken from us). We know the words of the Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Therefore, as Daren Jonescu writes, "The United States became the first nation founded on the premise that men are by nature free, and therefore that the purpose of government is, and must be, only the protection of that natural freedom... The law of the land, unlike the laws of all other lands, is first and foremost a set of clear moral restrictions on government, in favor of individual citizens. The American, then, is the only citizen on the planet who is...functionally superior in political status to his 'government.'"

How long will this last? Especially as we continue to allow our children to be duped by undermining biblical and constitutional fallacies. Once again, we cite John Dewey, the father of public education. He did not believe in the natural rights of individual human nature. He believed that the community precedes the individual. The only freedom the leftists promote is the freedom to use ones gifts to promote the growth of their progressive society.

I end this post today with two more quotes from Daren ;Jonescu, "Why do parents willingly (or reluctantly, for that matter) send their own children--their own future--to socialist reeducation camps? "From my cold, dead hands," they proudly say of their guns. Are not their children worthy of at least so strong a grip?"

"A soul is a terrible thing to waste. A hundred million souls--now we are talking about the difference between desolation and hope."

If they take our guns, we are slaves. What if they steal the minds and souls of our children? How strong is your grip?

Love from Nancy

 

To check quotes from Daren Jonescu, go to www.americanthinker.com and check out the following:

The Case Against Public Education

Ending Progressive Public Education

On Restoring American Individualism

Yesterday I talked about the "slavery of assimilation." I see it again in the words I read this morning in Isaiah 30:1-3 and 31:1 of how Israel wanted to go to Egypt for advice rather than seeking the Lord. They put their strength and trust in the "shadow of Egypt" rather than the Lord God.

We are also doing this as a nation. The majority of this nation are putting their trust in ObamaCare for the care of their bodies. We are coming into the heartrending state of the Jews which Nehemiah wrote about. They had become servants in their own land! And he anguishly called out that those who ruled over them "HAVE DOMINION OVER OUR BODIES... at their pleasure, and we are in great distress." (Nehemiah 9:36-37).

But even more than our bodies, the state already has dominion over the majority of the minds of the nation. And we have willingly handed them over.

The state education and the media programs the minds of the majority of our nation today. I can understand an ungodly people handing over their children's minds and souls to an ungodly education, but I cannot understand, for the life of me, how God-fearing parents can willingly hand over their children to an ungodly system.

John Dewey (1859-1952) is known as the father of our education system. He rejected the concept of God, holding that man has no soul, and denied the existence of God's unchangeable truth. He co-authored the original Humanist Manifesto in 1933 and was a promoter of global government. Consequently we have a public education system today that no longer accepts anything to do with God.

Due to U.S. Supreme Court rulings, in 1962 students were forbidden to publicly pray in school. In 1963 students were forbidden to recite the Lord's Prayer or Bible passages as part of devotional exercises. In 1980 the Ten Commandments were prohibited from being posted on public school classroom walls. In 1985 the observance of "daily moments of silence" were banned from public schools in case students would pray to the true God. In 1992 they banned prayers led by members of the clergy at public school graduation ceremonies. And in 2000, student-led pre-kickoff prayers at high school football games were outlawed!

There must be no vestige of God, prayer, or the Bible! And yet, Christian parents daily send their children to be gradually duped and programmed by this new "progressive" education system.

We have put our trust in Egypt! And what will be the result? "Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion" (Isaiah 30:3).

Love from Nancy

 

I have been recently reading a book by George McDonald and I was taken by a line, "James was one of the many bound up in the SLAVERY OF REVERENCING THE JUDGMENTS OF SOCIETY." I thought of how we can all be hooked in so easily to this state. We so easily assimilate. Unless we are constantly in God's Word to keep in line with His plumbline for living, we instead slide into fitting in with society around us, which is not a godly society, but a humanistic society.

Let's rise up from the slavery of assimilating. Let's stand for what we believe, no matter what persecution. For if not, the consequences are the eventual annihilation of a godly nation.

Love from Nancy

Giving is an attribute of God. "For God so loved the world that HE GAVE..." When I think of God's giving to us, I feel so stingy and tightfisted. God gave His best. Jesus gave His all. Yes, He pours out upon us spiritual gifts, but more than that, He gives us tangible gifts every new day. He just loves to give. Any little desire to give that we have in us comes from God Himself.

Matthew 7: 11 says, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" We love because He first loved us. We give because He first gives to us.

Therefore, in my humble opinion, the more we can give the better. The more we give, the more we are like God. I think we should encourage the spirit of giving, not discourage it.

As parents, we give every day to our children. We give our time. We give love, encouragement, care, food, and clothing. And of course we give our children a godly home in which to grow in the Lord and seek to pour into their lives His Word of truth. But, there is more than the day to day. God loves celebrations and I think celebrations are time to give EXTRA, just because we want to give. As one person stated, "We can give without loving, but we can't love without giving.

Some love to give gifts at birthdays, some at Hanukkah, and some at Christmas and other occasions, but whenever it is, let's give, and let's get into the spirit of giving. Let's give liberally.

The anticipation of giving gifts at celebrations is one of the greatest memories for children.
When our children were growing up, we gave them everything they needed to live and thrive throughout the year. But, when it came to Christmas we loved giving them gifts, and they loved earning; money to give to one another. Now, these gifts were not useless gifts. They were often things they actually needed, or special things they longed for and waited with anticipation all through the year to hope they just might get it at Christmas.

Isn't anticipation the most wonderful thing? There are so many children who have no idea of what it even means today. We are so affluent and children are used to getting something every time they go to the shops. As a child, I can remember the actual pain of anticipation as I waited for a gift at Christmas!

I have never believed in telling our children a lie and so they always knew that Santa Claus was not the spirit of Christmas and he was never included in our celebrations. But, when they were little (as well as the gifts they opened on Christmas morning) we used to put a pillow case of little things at the end of their bed on Christmas night. They knew that these gifts came from us. We would often pop in a few packets of raisins and even an orange, along with some little toys. Later, when asked, "What did you get for Christmas?" they would answer "A packet of raisins!" They remembered that more than some special gift they received! It's not the price of the gift but the joy of receiving a gift.

And did I say "an orange"? Yes, back when I was a child it was an amazing treat to receive an orange at Christmas! Things have certainly changed!~

Now, here I am talking about giving liberally, and yet I am not able to give a lot this year. And yet what I am giving is so exciting. I have been wrapping presents just before I came to type this post. Annie Johnson Flint writes, "For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!" Sometimes I dream of having riches to be able to REALLY GIVE what I want to give. But, to give what we can is still exciting.

I love these words...
Love ever gives, forgives, outlives,
And while it lives, it gives!
For this is love's prerogative,
to give, and give, AND GIVE!

Love from Nancy

Back to our original question, should we give gifts to each other at Christmas or not? Every family has their own convictions, and I know there are many who refrain from doing this, and I respect their opinions. We are all led differently. However, I personally do not believe there is anything wrong in giving gifts. I think God delights in the spirit of giving. I think He loves watching families give gifts to one another. The spirit of giving comes from God.

I think it is sad to take away the excitement, enthusiasm, and anticipation of children giving to their parents and their siblings. Children love to give more than receive and why should we take this God-given instinct away from them?

When our children were growing, we didn't give them money to buy gifts. They had to earn every penny so that it was truly a sacrificial gift from themselves We didn't pay our children for basic household tasks during the year, but at Christmas time we paid them for extra tasks that were not usually on the weekly schedule. It was exciting to get my windows cleaned and other forgotten tasks accomplished. The children earned their money and I ended up with a spring-cleaned home! (My, I could do with them all back at home!). I notice Serene is doing the same thing this week with her children.

The excitement is in the air again this Christmas. Arden sold an old car that was lying around and spent it all on his family. In fact, that wasn't enough. He and some of the cousins found some old heavy machinary for scrap metal lying around the land (how they ever lifted it onto the trailer we can't imagine). They cajoled Granddad to take them off to sell it. It's great to see them earning money any way they can--all for the joy of giving to others. They don't keep one last cent to themselves.

Love from Nancy

I cried out to the Lord, "Lord, please show me what I can do. I don't have time to shop, but I want to give something meaningful. God answered. Colin woke about 2.00 am, accidently sent the light and books flying, and woke me up so I couldn't go back to sleep. Praise the Lord, God gave me time!

I got my paper and pen (which I always have by my bed) and began to write a small poem for Vange and Howard and each of the children that related to their lives. I typed them out the next day and pasted each one in a homemade Christmas card. I also made a big 14" long loaf of sour dough bread, their favorite! I read each little poem out to them and they couldn't have been happier. They appreciated them more than any store-bought gifts. Vange was hugging the bread and pulling off the crust to eat (her favorite part) before anyone else could get to it!

Over 20 years ago we enjoyed our first Christmas in North America. We were staying with my sister, Kate, when she lived in a huge log house in the Cariboo of British Columbia, Canada. We were totally snowed in and also had no money to purchase gifts. Once again we decided to each wrote poems to one another which each one stood up and read out. We still have these poems today and they will outlast transient gifts. (Oh yes, I should mention that they cooked a wonderful meal of venison, a deer which Zadok shot).

In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus also reminds us that how we treat others and how we give to others is how we minister to Him. And don't forget to read Proverbs 19:17.

I'll continue the discussion tomorrow.

Love from Nancy

At a Christmas event on the weekend the speaker quoted that we should not give gifts to one another, but rather give to the Lord. I find this a confusing statement. I know that we should give to the Lord--our time, our talents, and our whole lives. But, let's face it, how do we practically give to the Lord? I believe we give to Him by giving to one another.

Psalm 16:2-3 says, "Thou art my Lord: my goodness extends not to thee; but to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight." How does God see us showing goodness and love to Him? By extending it to His people! When we give to others, we give to God.

Of course I don't advocate spending money you can't afford on expensive gifts that people don't need and that are often for show! Although we all get together on Christmas Day, we have lots of other little traditions in our family. The other night it was our special night with Vange and Howard and the 10 children. I didn't have money or time to purchase gifts, and yet I wanted to give. There's something wrong if we don't want to give, isn't there? I think its miserly, stingy, and boring!

Find out what happened tomorrow.

Love from Nancy

I love the last stanza from Christina G. Rossetti's beautiful song, "In the Bleak Midwinter" which she wrote in 1872. This is the last stanza. My children learned this poem when they were young. You may like to encourage your children to learn it, too.

“What can I give him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him—
Give my heart."

Love from Nancy

Not only did Zacharias prophecy at Jesus' birth that He came to bring light, but also Simeon. God had told Simeon that he would not die until He had seen the Messiah! When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to present Him to the Lord, dear old Simeon perceived that this baby was THE MESSIAH for which he had been waiting. He took Jesus up in his arms and proclaimed, "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A LIGHT TO LIGHTEN THE GENTILES, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:26-32). Jesus Christ is "THE TRUE LIGHT, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" John 1:9).

Every new baby is born with a God consciousness, a light from God our Maker. Proverbs 20:27 says "The spirit of man is the candle (light) of the Lord." Have you noticed that when a new baby is born into a family that there is a heavenly atmosphere in the home? There is an "awe" that we only experience with a new babe. I believe we are experiencing a new light from heaven. I think this is why little children are so open to God.

Job 18:5-56 says, "Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him." What a terrible indictment it would be to have people say, "The light is dark in their home!" I don't want there to be any darkness in my home, do you? I don't want our light to die out. I want the light of Christ to increase.

Let's make room for the light of Christ Jesus to shine into our hearts, into the hearts of our children, into our plan of every day, and into every room in our home. Let's push out any darkness that comes creeping in.

Are you a lighthouse or a darkhouse?

Love from Nancy

The celebration of the Feast of Dedication is over. Now we prepare and look forward to the most wonderful celebration in the history of the world--when Christ, the Son of God, came to this earth as a little baby. We know that this was not the actual time of his birth, but it is the time we remember His miraculous incarnation.

Just as we celebrated that Christ is the Light of the world during Hanukkah, so we continue to celebrate that He is the Light. God spoke through the prophecy of Zacharias that He was sending His beloved Son into the world "TO GIVE LIGHT TO THEM THAT SIT IN DARKNESS and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (Luke 1:79).

They had no room for the Light of the World in Bethlehem. Are we making room for Him in our lives? Every time we respond to the moving of the Holy Spirit in our lives and say Yes to God we open up to His light. When we are stubborn, want our own way, and say No to the convicting of the Holy Spirit, we choose darkness.

Dear mother, we must teach our children this powerful principle, too. Every time they say Yes to you and Yes to the Holy Spirit speaking to them they will receive more and more light into their lives. When they are disobedient and say No to you, and No to the voice of their conscience they bring more darkness into their lives.

May we open up MORE AND MORE to the Light and less and less to the darkness. Proverbs 4:18 says, "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth MORE AND MORE unto the perfect day." Each new day, individually and as a family, ask God to FLOOD YOU WITH HIS LIGHT.

Love from Nancy