Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

This is something we started when my mom's health began to go downhill. I would call her during our daily prayer/praise time in the morning. A few times a week we would sing one song, the children would say they loved her, and then we'd sign off.

After she died, we started calling their other three grandmothers this way. My dad's current wife asked if we would call a good friend of hers who has been self-quarantined for more than three months due to her health.

I wish I would have started this much sooner. It just takes a little more time, but the feedback that we have gotten has been very positive and we feel much more connected to our family far away. They don't expect us to be polished since we are not performing for them, but rather inviting them to sing with us, even if only in their hearts.

I think that sometimes we homeschooling mamas feel a strong desire to minister beyond our homes and I see this as a way to do this without neglecting our primary calling.

I just thought I'd share since there might be other families who want to try it. I know that there are so many lonely older people out there who would be greatly blessed.

Love from Paula Smith * This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

13 college presidents
65 professors
100 lawyers and a dean of an outstanding law school
30 judges
60 doctors and a dean of a medical school
80 holders of public office including:
3 United States Senators
3 Mayors of large cities
3 State governors
Third Vice President of the United States, Aaron Burr
Controller of the United States Treasury.

Members of the family wrote 135 books and edited 18 journals and periodicals. They entered the ministry in platoons and sent 100 missionaries overseas as well as stocking many mission boards with lay trustees. They directed banks, insurance companies, owned coalmines, iron plants and vast oil interests.

Winship states: “There is scarcely any great American industry that has not had one of this family among its chief promoters.”

Because of the responsibilities of Jonathan Edwards' ministry, Winship goes on to say: “Much of the capacity and talent, intensity and character of the Edwards family is due to Mrs. Sarah Edwards.” The influence of one godly mother has continued down through the generations to affect the destiny of the world.

In contrast to the Edwards family, 1200 of the Jukes' family were tracked down. They originated with one immigrant who settled in upstate New York in 1720 and produced a tribe of “idleness, ignorance, and vulgarity.” Only 20 of the 1200 Jukes' ever had any gainful employment and all the others were criminals or lived on state aid.

How are you influencing future generations?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

P.S. Wouldn't it have been nice if they had smiled for pictures back in those days?

And what about your children? When you go out to the breakfast table, do you greet them with positive and loving words?
“Good morning, my most amazing and incredible children.”
“Good morning children. I love being your mother!”
“Good morning to my mighty world changers.”

And what about the people you meet? Paul wrote to the Colossian believers: “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ. . . Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Colossians 1:2). Do you notice that he called them “saints” and “faithful”? The word “saints” is “hagios” and means “holy, set apart, sanctified, consecrated, and pure.” He greeted them with the positive words: “holy and faithful.”

Why don’t we try to encourage people when we meet them? How lovely to greet friends in a way that will uplift their souls:
“So great to see you today, dear faithful friend. How are you?”
“What a joy to see your smiling face. You light up my day.”
“What a joy to see you. May you be blessed today.”
“I’m blessed every time I meet you.”

Change someone’s life every time you open your mouth.

Be encouraged and blessed,

Nancy Campbell

Therefore, as you nurse your sweet baby, love on your little one, and mother and train the other children God has given you, you are in the perfect will of God! You are doing what God intended you to do. And remember the wonderful promise in 1 John 2:17: “He that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

What attitude should you have to fulfil the perfect will of God? We read the attitude of Jesus in Psalm 40:8: “I DELIGHT to do thy will, O my God.”

Are you delighting in your motherhood? We decide what attitude we will have each day. We can choose to delight in our mothering. To embrace it with all out hearts. To praise God even on the challenging and difficult days. Or we can give in to self-pity and complaining. What does that do? It changes everything into drudgery!

Does someone who serves God in a foreign country and suffers hardship for the name of Christ become disillusioned and grumble about their difficulties? No. They embrace it all with joy because they are serving God. They know they are walking in God’s will.

The perfect will of God is not always the easiest path, but it is the eternal one. The greatest one. The only one. And it brings into joy (Psalm 113:9 and Hebrews 12:2).

Which will you choose today?

Love from Nancy Campbell

Artist: John Fernandes, India, 1951 - 2007.

But that's not the end of the Scripture. It goes on to say: "Therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee."

God longs to be in our midst, but He dwells in holiness. Therefore, He wants us to make a holy home. He doesn't want to see anything unclean or shameful. The word "unclean" actually means "nudity, nakedness, the genitals, shame, disgrace, uncleanness." This Scripture reveals that even in the home we should be careful as parents, and also teach our children, not to expose private parts. Some families can be too free in this area. In establishing a godly home we must keep to God's ways if we don't want Him to turn away from us (Leviticus 18).

We establish holiness first in our own lives and then it works out in our homes. 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 says: "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." These are strong words, aren't they? And they are New Testament!

The word temple is "naos" and literally means the "Holy of Holies." It was in the Holy of Holies where God dwelt in all His shekinah glory. There is no longer a temple in Jerusalem but now God wants to dwell our mortal bodies. He wants us to become His Holy of Holies. This is truth. Can you take it in? It's revolutionary. These same words are spoken again 1 in 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 and 2 Corinthians 6:16.

In fact 2 Corinthians 6:16 repeats the truth of our Scripture in Deuteronomy 23:14. It says: "Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, AND WALK IN THEM; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Dear friend, you are God's Holy of Holies where He wants to dwell. Let's seek to make this truth reality in our lives. And as we do, we will make our homes into a Holy of Holies.

The greatest blessing of this nation is godly and holy homes whose foundation is in God's living Word. Is your home filled with a holy atmosphere or a worldly atmosphere?

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: Joseph Clark *(1834 - 1926) English

Isn't that so wonderful? You need Him so much. But you need not despair, because He is right near you, waiting for you to call out to Him. He has promised to be near to those who call out to Him (Psalm 145:18). He is waiting and watching to deliver you. He will help you defeat your enemies. He is a "very present" help in your trouble (Psalm 46:1).

Thank Him for His presence with you. Thank Him that He is with you as you nurse your baby, as you change diapers, as you clean and care for your children. It will make all the difference as you acknowledge His presence.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Picture attributes: Unknown

When the children of Israel passed through the land of Seir, God told them to make sure they paid for anything they ate or drank.

Deuteronomy 2:6: “Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink.”

The same happened when they passed through the land of the Moabites. When they came to the land of Sihon, Moses told King Heshbon: “Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat, and give me water for money that I may drink” (Deuteronomy 2:28). They were ready to take responsibility for what they used.

God gives us a biblical principle for everything in life. We should always seek to pay for what we need, for what we eat and drank, and for what we use. If we break something that belongs to someone else, we should replace it. If we lose something that belongs to someone else, we should replace it. If we are invited to eat with a family for dinner, we should bring something toward the meal.

I am always challenged by the example of David when he wanted to purchase the threshing floor of Aruunah in order to build an altar to the Lord. Araunah offered it freely to David: “Take the threshing floor. And look, here are oxen for you to use. And here are the threshing instruments. Use them all freely.”

What did David answer? “I will surely buy it of thee AT A PRICE: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that WHICH DOES COST ME NOTHING. So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver” (2 Samuel 24:21-24).

Let’s not be those who take everything for granted. Away with entitlement mentality.

Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell

The company was shocked. They doubled their money. He could live a life of luxury.

The missionary turned them down again!

The company was puzzled. “We can’t offer you any more money,” they said. “But what else can we do to entice you?”

What was his reply? "The money's not too small; the job is!"

This missionary was working for an eternal reward.

Dear mother, you are doing the same. Motherhood is an eternal career. As you embrace your motherhood and train and nurture your children in a godly manner you are preparing them for eternity. Motherhood surpasses any other career, no matter how much you are paid. That money will never be worth the time you give up on spending time with your children.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Art by Annet Loginova

The way to abundant life is losing your own life by pouring it out for others. Jesus takes the challenge even further when He said in John 12:24, 25: “Truly, truly, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”

I love the lines from Elisabeth Elliot in her book “Love Has a Price Tag” where she writes: “The routines of housework and mothering may be seen as a kind of death, and it is appropriate that they should be, for they offer the chance, day after day, to lay down one’s life for others. Then they are no longer routines. By being done with love and offered up to God with praise, they are thereby hallowed as the vessels of the tabernacle were hallowed. A mother’s part in sustaining the life of her children and making it pleasant and comfortable is no triviality. It calls for self-sacrifice and humility, but it is the route, as was the humiliation of Jesus, to glory.”

In other words, it is the path to GLORY. Check out these Scriptures too: 2 Corinthians 4:16-18; Philippians 2:5-11; and 1 Peter 1:7, 11.

Have a beautiful day,

Nancy Campbell

We have the power of prayer that can annihilate hundreds and thousands of enemies (Leviticus 26:7, 8 and Ephesians 6:18).

We have the power of the blood and the name of Jesus from which the devil flees (Revelation 12:11).

But do we use our weapons? Psalm 78:9 tell us about the Ephaimites who “being armed, and carrying bows, turned back in the day of battle.” Isn’t that amazing? They had their armor on and their weapons with them, but they didn’t use them. They weren’t skilled and practice and therefore they were fearful when facing the battle.

We’ve got to get familiar with our weapons. They’ve got to become part of us. Remember when King Saul gave David his own armor and a sword? When David tried to walk, he was not comfortable because he hadn’t proved them, and took them off (1 Samuel 17:38, 39).

If we are not familiar with our weapons, we won’t be ready to use them when the need arises.

LET’S GET PRACTICED and LET’S TEACH OUR CHILDREN HOW TO USE THE WEAPONS GOD GIVES US!

We have a responsibility to daily fill them with God’s Word. God’s powerful words must get into their mouths (Isaiah 59:21). Let’s teach them how to pray. The way we do this is pray! Never let a day go by, morning and evening, without praying together with your children. Teach them the power of the blood of Jesus and how to use the name of Jesus against the enemy (James 4:7 and 1 John 3:8).

By the time your children leave home and go out into this world they should be so proficient at using their armor that they are ready for any battle they face, which of course they will face. Our military don’t go into battle until they are proficient with their weapons! We, and our children, must also become skilled.

Let’s be “warfare ready” families in this hour.

Be encouraged.

Nancy Campbell

Our precious young people live in a society where they are surrounded by deception, evil, and violence on TV, social media, and ow even in the streets of our cities. Broken homes are normal. Divorce is a way of life and yet divorce destroys the lives of children.

It’s not what God planned. He plans for children to live in a home with a father and mother who love one another and who are committed to strengthen and build their family together. This assignment is more important than anything else they do in in life.

All the government programs, and even church programs, are only crutches. They are not the real thing. The real thing is stable family life with a father and mother who are committed to their family—even before their careers and every project they do in life.

The word “strengthen” in this Scripture is “chazaq” and means: “to be bound fast, to be attached, to make firm, to cleave, to be constant, to support, to preserve, to hold fast, and to strengthen.” It means to make your roots deep.

The HCSB translates it: “Drive your pegs deep.”

The NET says: “Pound your stakes deep.” This is what we must do with our marriage and family life. We’ve got to dig in deep.

Why don’t you try to do at least one thing each day to strengthen your marriage and your home life? Establish family togetherness at your meal table. Think of special things you can do as a family in the evenings at home. Don’t always be rushing out. Make your home life rich and exciting.

That’s what you call building. We either build into our marriage and home or we pull it down. Proverbs 14:1 says: “Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.”

Are you building into your marriage and home today?

Nancy Campbell

Did you know that the Bible likens marriage to a resting place? Does that really sound possible? Two times the story of Ruth, Naomi talks about marriage as a place of rest.

Firstly, in Ruth 1:9 (NET) she says to both her daughters-in-law: “May the LORD enable each of you to find security in the home of a new husband!” The King James Bible says “that ye may find rest.”

The word rest is “menuchah” and means “repose, peaceful, consolation, an abode, quiet, comfort, refreshment, a resting place, and specifically matrimony.” It’s the same word that is used in Psalm 23:2 where our Good Shepherd leads us beside the “still waters.”

Then again, in Ruth 3:1 Naomi speaks to Ruth who came back with her to Judah: “My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well with thee?” The GNB translation says: “I must find a husband for you, so that you will have a home of your own.” Naomi was concerned to find a husband for Ruth.

This time the Hebrew word is “manoach,” with a very similar meaning, “a settled spot, a home, a place of rest.”

Sadly, this is not always the picture of marriage relationships. Yet this is what God intends. Marriage provides security ,stability, provision, and a resting place to fulfil our God-given career of mothering and nurturing. It is difficult for single moms to cope with providing for their children and nurturing and making a home at the same time. There are many who find themselves in this position through no fault of their own and they need much encouragement and help.

But God intends the home to have a husband and a wife. When a husband knows his mandate from God to provide for his wife and family and to protect and guard them, a wife can live in quietness and rest. She can give herself to the work of managing her home and caring for her children.

Did you notice I said work? “But you are talking about rest” I hear you say. We can work hard and yet be in rest. To live in rest doesn’t mean that we sit around all day. I remember a very busy man of God who would end his correspondence, “Restfully busy.” When you are working hard and busy in your home, think of being “restfully busy.”

I believe that rest is a
state of rest in our soul,
peace with God,
free from the worries of providing for the family, and
basking in the joy of mothering and homemaking.
This is God’s glorious plan.

And this is why marriage is referred to as a resting place. Of course, Satan tries to disrupt the rest that God intends. He wants to destroy every plan of God. Therefore, we must always be on the lookout for his insidious ways. We must watch that we don’t take on too many other things outside the home. We must guard against tension and evil creeping into the home We must resist all rebellions and selfish attitudes. And especially bitterness and hardness of heart.

Marriage is all to do with our attitudes and we can choose which attitude we will take. It’s easy to take the negative one, not so easy to take the godly attitude, but we can do it with God’s enabling.

Let’s seek to make our marriages and homes places of rest.

Have a wonderful day,

Nancy Campbell

Yet in the scriptures we hardly ever hear of women going to the mountains.
But we know why, right?

Because the women were too busy keeping life going;
they couldn’t abandon babies,
meals,
homes,
fires,
gardens,
and a thousand responsibilities to make the climb into the mountains!

I was talking to a friend the other day, saying that as modern woman I feel like I’m never “free” enough from my responsibilities, never in a quiet enough space I want with God.

Her response floored me, “That is why God comes to women.
Men have to climb the mountain to meet God, but God comes to women where ever they are.”

I have been pondering on her words for weeks and have searched the Scriptures to see that what she said is true.
God does indeed come to women where they are,
when they are doing their ordinary, everyday work.

He meets them at the wells where they draw water for their families,
in their homes,
in their kitchens,
in their gardens.

He comes to them as they sit beside sickbeds,
as they give birth,
care for the elderly,
and perform necessary mourning and burial rites.

Even at the empty tomb, Mary was the first to witness Christ’s resurrection, She was there because she was doing the womanly chore of properly preparing Christ’s body for burial.

In these seemingly mundane and ordinary tasks, these women of the Scriptures found themselves face to face with divinity.

So if, like me, you ever start to bemoan the fact that you don’t have as much time to spend in the mountains with God as you would like, remember, God comes to women.

He knows where we are and the burdens we carry.
He sees us, and if we open our eyes and our hearts, we will see Him,
even in the most ordinary places and in the most ordinary things.

Unknown.

The challenge to us is that if we do not work to guard our home and family, the devil will outdo us with his works. If mothers would rather work outside their home than in their home, they give room for the devil to work in their home behind their backs! This is one of the reasons the devil woos women out of the home. He can then get his hands upon the minds and hearts of our precious children. If mothers are not protecting, guiding, teaching, and nurturing their children in the home, who is? Who is that person? Are they godly? Are they righteous? Are they anointed from God for the task? Are they teaching our children the truth?

We must work to keep our home a place of love, joy, delight, and holiness—and truth! It takes work to keep deception out of your home. The enemy always looks for a foothold where he can get in.

Keep working dear mother. Don’t let up. Don’t let the devil work havoc in your marriage and children while you are busy with other things.

One of the greatest ways we destroy the “works of the devil” is through fervent prayer. How much are you praying for your children? Your home? Future generations?

Keep the devil at bay from your marriage and home.

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: Pierre Edouard Frere (1819 – 1886 French).

It’s people who make home. Mother and father and brothers and sisters. I remember as a child coming home from school. Arriving home my mother would be there, either in the kitchen or in her sewing room. I would say Hi, throw my bag in my room, and run out the door to play with my friends. I was happy and carefree. I felt secure because mother was at home.

However, on some occasions, I arrived home to find no one at home. My mother was late home from shopping. Instead of running out the door to play with my friends, I moped around the house. Something was wrong. I didn’t feel the same freedom to run out and play.

The security that comes from knowing mother is there is powerful. One of the names of God is Jehovah Shammah which means “God is there.” To know that God is always available is so steadying to our lives. In the same way, we as mothers show to our children a wonderful characteristic of God when we are “there” for our children. We show them what God is like.

To be “there” in the heart of the home reveals a little of what Heaven is like because Heaven is only Heaven because God is there. And home is only home because YOU are there, dear mother.

You are not wasting your life when you are in your home and available for your children. You show to them a God-like character which brings great stability to their lives.

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: "Family Traditions" -- by Mark Arian (b.1947, American)