Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Through the weekly and daily devotionals you can be constantly encouraged in your great role of parenting, the highest career in the nation. You can also stay updated on what's happening with the Above Rubies ministry.

Strengthening Families Across the World through the encouragement of women in their high calling from God as wives, mothers and homemakers.

CREATED WITH DIVINE PURPOSE!

DivinePurposeWhat a privilege to be a woman!
We are created in the image of God.
We are created to reveal the nurturing and mothering heart of God.
We are created with a womb to be a life-giver.
We are created with breasts to nurture and nourish life.
We are created to be a vessel of God to bring forth life into this world--a life that is planned before the beginning of time, a life with a God-given purpose to fulfill on this earth, and a life that is an eternal soul. We are created to be the nurturers and trainers of God's children, the children He gives to us to train on His behalf.
We are created to be feminine and show to the world that we are His female creation.
We are created to be a divine helper to our husband and blessed by God's plan to live under his covering and protection.
We are created for good works.
We are created to bring glory to God.
Thank you, Lord God. What a privilege. And thank you for purpose for each new day.
 
Be encouraged and blessed today,
Nancy Campbell
 
 
Painting by Abigale Palmer
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THE BRIDE

TheBrideNot from his head was woman took,
As made her husband to o’erlook;
Not from his feet, as one designed
The footstool of the stronger kind;
But fashioned for himself a bride;
An equal, taken from his side.
 
~ Charles Wesley.
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ARE YOU GETTING READY FOR CHURCH?

GettingReadyChurchAre you getting your family ready for church? Some people think they do not need to go to church but God commands the assembling of his saints together. Hebrews 10:24 exhorts us to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. “
 
Did you know that the word church is mentioned 118 times in the New Testament? And the word means “a Christian community of members on earth, an assembly.” The church is not just a building but the assembling of his people. If we love God‘s people we will love to gather with them. I believe it is a very important part of family life to gather with the people of God and worship with them. It was Jesus’ habit to go to the synagogue every week. It should be our habit and the training of our children into this habit to also worship with God‘s people every week, whether in a big church or a house church.
 
Paul said, “I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:17). True Christianity does not isolate; it gathers.
 
And of course, it comes back to us as mothers. We have to make the effort to prepare for this day and get our children ready and inspire our families to meet with the people of God, from babies to the oldest one living in our homes. No one is exempt!
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INTERESTING INFORMATION

InterestingInfoMargaret Thatcher, Prime Minister of England, was known as THE IRON LADY, and yet she never wore pants!
 
Amanda Platell writes: “Back in 2001 I was William Hague's Press Secretary and, after giving me some salutary campaigning advice, the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, took me to one side for a bit of woman-to-woman counsel. Looking at my trouser suit, she said: 'Never trousers, my dear. They rob a woman of her authority.'”
 
Why is it that women do not embrace their anointing and authority that God has given to them as women instead of borrowing it from men? Men have the authority God has given to them, but women have a feminine and powerful authority that God has given to them. We lose it when we take the man’s authority and dress like the man. Let’s embrace who we are.
 
~ Nancy
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ABORTION MAKES US POORER

AbortionMakesPoorerEvery new life is a blessing from God and a blessing to the world. Not only will they bless the world with all their gifts and talents and the revelation of God to the world, but they bless the nation financially.
 
Steven Mosher, PRI President writes: “Abortion is, above all, a violation of God's law against taking a human life but it also has economic consequences for society as a whole. The economic value of a newborn over his or her lifetime is a little less than a million dollars. That is to say, from birth to death, the average American will produce almost a million dollars more than they will consume. Looking at it another way, every abortion makes us poorer."
 
Blessings from Nancy
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MOTHERING FREE!

MotheringFreeI started out mothering by listening to the "good advice" from people around me. I was told I should wait four hours between feeding my baby. But he couldn't wait four hours. I was told I should train him to sleep through the night. Oh, how frustrated I was. I loved by baby but oh, this motherhood was painful!

Then I read a statement by a doctor that was my lifesaver.

"There is more in a mother's intuition than all the books you'll ever read."

Praise the Lord, I didn't have to listen to all the "old wives' tales." I could listen to the maternal intuition that God put within me. I was free to respond to my baby. I could nurse him when he cried! I could bring him to bed and let him sleep with me. What bliss! What freedom.

Forget all the books. Forget all the humanistic advice. Listen to God. Listen to your mothering heart. It will release you to be the greatest mother to your baby and your children.

Enjoy a beautiful mothering day,

Nancy Campbell

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GOD WANTS TO BE PART OF YOUR WHOLE LIFE

ToBeAPartWhy do we try to separate our spiritual lives from our practical lives? It's all meant to be one. Every practical thing you do in your home is sacred when God is in it. Always be aware that God is with you, no matter what mundane task you are doing.

In Nehemiah chapter eight we read how all the people gathered together to hear Ezra read the book of the law. As they heard the words of the Lord their response was to worship and bless the Lord, and even to weep with conviction. But they didn't keep this awesome time of spiritual renewal separated from life.

Ezra and Nehemiah told the people to "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord . . . And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them" (Nehemiah 8:9-12).

What did they do after understanding the words of the Lord? Eat, drink, and have a great celebration.

God is not only part of your life when you are reading His Word and praying, but when you are eating and drinking. When you are having a celebration. And when you are accomplishing every practical and necessary task.

Embrace God's presence in EVERYTHING you do today. What a day you will have.

Be blessed, Nancy Campbell

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GOD WANTS TO BE PART OF YOUR WHOLE LIFE

BeAPartOfWhy do we try to separate our spiritual lives from our practical lives? It's all meant to be one. Every practical thing you do in your home is sacredwhen God is in it. Always be aware that God is with you, no matter what mundane task you are doing.

In Nehemiah chapter eight we read how all the people gathered together to hear Ezra read the book of the law. As they heard the words of the Lord their response was to worship and bless the Lord, and even to weep with conviction. But they didn't keep this awesome time of spiritual renewal separated from life.

Ezra and Nehemiah told the people to "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord . . . And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them" (Nehemiah 8:9-12).

What did they do after understanding the words of the Lord? Eat, drink, and have a great celebration.

God is not only part of your life when you are reading His Word and praying, but when you are eating and drinking. When you are having a celebration. And when you are accomplishing every practical and necessary task.

Embrace God's presence in EVERYTHING you do today. What a day you will have.

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

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PUT SOME JOY INTO YOUR HOME TODAY

Put Some JoyWe are talking about the things that God loves to see in our home. Another thing that God loves is gladness (1 Chronicles 16:27). God is not a kill-joy. God is the instigator of joy, laughter, fun, fellowship, and

feasting.

If you want your home to be filled with the presence of the Lord, fill it with gladness. This word "gladness" is the same Hebrew word that is used when it tells us the "joy" of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).

It's so easy to get into a rut, isn't it? A rut of boringness, negativity, and gloom. Why not change the atmosphere of your home? No matter what your feelings, add some gladness to your home today. Put a smile on your face. When you catch yourself frowning, make yourself smile instead. You don't have to feel like it. You do it anyway and your feelings will catch up with your facial expression.

Whisper loving and passionate secrets to your husband today. Whisper secrets into the ears of your children that you love them and are so blessed to be their mother. Think of something new and special to do that will surprise your children. Cook a special meal that your husband loves. Write encouraging notes to your children and place them at their plate at the evening meal or pop them under their pillow to find as they go to bed.

Take time to watch your children and laugh. Laugh at your problems. It's not the end of the world. And God is bigger than your problem.

Have fun adding gladness into your home today.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

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A FRESH TOUCH OF BEAUTY

FreshTouchBeautyAs we seek to make our home a sanctuary for God, we must fill it with things that God loves. Yesterday we talked about strength. God also loves beauty in His sanctuary (Psalm 96:6). God wants you to fill your home with beauty too.

We love to decorate our home to make it look more beautiful, don't we? Beautiful music, pictures, plants and greenery, and flowers add loveliness to the home--whether it is a spacious home or a very humble home.

But beauty is even more than things. Beauty is order. There is no beauty in a home that is filled with junk and clutter. There is no beauty in a home that is not ordered and running smoothly. Order and simplicity will not only fill your home, but your soul with beauty.

Beauty is peace. That sure doesn't mean that you live a quiet home where there is no noise or hubbub of activity. If you have children, there will be noise, and even mess (but you don't leave things in a mess). Don't forget this fact--your peace is not in quietness; your peace is in God. Look to Him in the midst of everything happening around you.

Beauty is the joy of big and little children all around us. They are the gladness of our home.

Beauty is the aroma of food cooking and a delightfully set table that woos each family member. Always seek to make your table beautiful-a tablecloth (use a plastic cover over it if you have little ones and don't have time for extra laundry), and flowers (even a bouquet of weeds your children have gathered) or perhaps candles.

Beauty is love, joy, laughter, and especially sweet and encouraging words to your husband and children.

Seek to add a fresh touch of beauty to your home each day, both practically and spiritually.

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: The Breakfast Table by Sir George Clausen (1852 - 1944).

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NO LONGER WISHY-WASHY!

NoLongerWishyWashyWhat a privilege we have as mothers to create a home that is a sanctuary for God. God loves to dwell in our homes and walk in the midst of everything we are doing (Leviticus 26:11-12 and 2 Corinthians 16-18).

Psalm 96:6 says: "Honor and majesty are before Him; STRENGTH AND BEAUTY are in His sanctuary."

Strength is one of the characteristics of God's sanctuary. Therefore, as we prepare our home to be a sanctuary for God, we need to build strength into our home. I believe the greatest way we do this is to fill our hearts, and the hearts of our children, with God's truth. Unless we, and our children, know the truth, are convinced of the truth, and are prepared to contend for the truth, we are wishy-washy and have no strength. We are a home that has no strength and can be battered by the storms of life.

I am amazed, or I should say, very burdened, at the state of Christianity today. Many do not have strong convictions of God's principles. They are tolerant of what God says is an abomination. They are raising children who are more familiar with the entertainment of this world than they of God's Word.

Let's build strength into our home. Let's become mothers of strong convictions. Let's raise children who will not fear to stand strong for truth, and who will "be able to withstand (stand against, oppose, resist) in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:13).

Are you with me? Let's do it.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

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FASTING OR FEASTING?

feastfamineDo you like fasting? I have to confess that I don't enjoy it. I love eating my three meals every day to nourish my physical body. And yet, isn't it incredible that many believers enjoy fasting from food for their inner man? Paul speaks in 2 Corinthians 4:16 about the "inward man" being "renewed day by day."

It is difficult to keep up with a physically demanding life unless we eat good wholesome food. In the same way, we have to feed our inner man if we are going to be strong and victorious for the challenges we face each day, and whatever we may face in the future. Some folks rely on a Sunday service message each week. Help, we'd be very weak in body if we only ate once a week.

Just as our body needs renewing day by day, so our soul and spirit must be renewed each day. We renew it as we feed on God's Word. It is our life and our sustenance. We renew it as we commune with the Father and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. How do we do this in our busy lives? I couldn't think of not starting and ending our day with our Family Devotions with everyone in the home gathered around. They are feeding times for my soul and spirit.

Put a Bible in the bathroom/restroom and grab a morsel from the Psalms or Proverbs. Put a Bible on your windowsill to grab another morsel as you prepare meals and do dishes. Keep a Bible near where you nurse your baby.

And what about your children? We'd have the CPS on our doorstep if we only fed our children once a week. And yet many don't care that the souls of their children are starving! Their spirits must be fed each new day, too. And what about your teens? They will not face the temptations of this world if their spirits are not strong and daily renewed in God's Word and bathed in prayer.

Become a feasting family!

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

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LEAD THEM FORTH

LeadForthWhat is your plan as you begin homeschooling your children each day? Are you facing the huge challenge of completing all the curriculums you purchased for each child? Your goal is to make sure you get through them all?

Dear mother, can I encourage you to relax. Making sure your children complete all their lessons each day is not true education. What is the meaning of education? It comes from a Latin word meaning, "to draw forth from within, to bring out, to lead forth, to develop the innate capacities of, to rear." It has the meaning of upbringing rather than instruction.

Get on the right track, dear mother. There is much more to education that stuffing your children with information that they will invariably forget. God has divinely put desires to seek out knowledge, aspirations, abilities, and special gifts in each one of your children. Seek to draw forth and bring out what God has already put in them. This makes education exciting. You work with God instead of plodding away on your own.

I am most probably looking from a different perspective than you. Most of my children are in their fifties. What do I see looking back? More than ever, I see that God created my children and put His plan in them from the beginning of time. They have accomplished amazing things, beyond what I could have ever taught them. They have fulfilled their dreams in spite of me! It wasn't their school lessons that helped them do what they are doing today. It was the gifting God had already put in them.

Of course, there are disciplines of teaching and learning that are important for life. But, dear mother, always keep in mind that your highest calling is to draw out from within your children the amazing gifts God has put in them and LEAD THEM FORTH with encouragement, motivation, and vision to fulfill the GREAT THINGS GOD HAS FOR THEM.

Have a great day, Nancy Campbell

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MOTHERS ROCK!

MothersRockYes, you rock mother. You are amazing.
 
But we also automatically rock when we hold a baby, don’t we? In fact, do you rock even when you are not holding a baby? Once you have experienced motherhood it becomes part of who you are, doesn't it? I think it’s built within us mothers to rock.
 
I have always believed that every mother should have a rocking chair. It is part of mothering and should be part of every baby's life. Even though my children have grown, I still rock. I rock when I hold a baby and I rock when I am not holding a baby! And I have to admit I sway whenever I am standing. I'm marked for life with rocking!
 
Keep on rocking, mother. You are a rocker.
 
I love these words from this poem . . .
 
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 to you today from your fellow rocker,
 
Nancy Campbell
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THE MERRY-HEARTED MOTHER

MerryHeartedMomGod gives a description of mothers in Psalm 113:9. In fact, it is His design and plan for mothers. Do you know the description? He calls them JOYFUL mothers!
 
"Oh my," you retort. "How do you expect me to be joyful when I hardly have time to get one moment for myself? I'm over-worked and underpaid! I've got crying little ones around me all day!"
 
Dear mother, can I let you into a secret? It's all in your attitude. If you think you could be doing something else, you'll resent you powerful role of mothering. If you think you deserve to be in some more "significant" role, you'll be frustrated.
 
I want to remind you today that you could not be doing anything more powerful. You are in the perfect will of God. You are fulfilling the greatest career God has given to women. You are determining the course of this nation. You are doing an eternal work. As you embrace your high calling with all your heart, the joy will come. God intends you to be filled with joy, not just because everything is perfect and easy, but because you are doing what He wants you to do.
 
The full understanding of the Hebrew word "JOYFUL" is that we will be glee-FULL, merry-FULL, happy-FULL, cheer-FULL, rejoicing-FULL, and of course, joy-FULL! Motherhood is not a half-measured life, but a FULL life. That means F.U.L.L of joy!
 
And this Scripture ends with, PRAISE THE LORD!
 
Be blessed and encouraged and filled with joy today,
 
Nancy Campbell
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LIFE IS NOT A BED OF ROSES

BedRosesIt is a training ground for eternity. It is where we learn to overcome and destroy the works of the devil. The rewards in Heaven are for the overcomers.

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YOU CANNOT BE REPLACED

NotReplacedThe humanistic worldview in our society makes mothers feel insignificant. They are told they should do something worthwhile with their lives. This is opposite to God’s plan. God designed women for the home--to raise His children in the home (yes, they are ultimately God’s children), to influence their children for God and His truth, and to make their home a sanctuary that is strong and secure against the storms of this life.
 
The words of Zechariah 13:7 also apply to motherhood: “Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.” Just as the shepherd is essential for the survival of his sheep and lambs, so mothers are indispensable for their children.
 
Satan’s plan is to smite motherhood and scatter the mother-shepherds out of the home. When he lures mothers away from their home, he can then turn against “the little ones” and entice them to his thinking and ways.
 
It is sad that many have fallen for Satan’s trap. It is time for watchdog, protective, lion-like, standing strong, never-giving-into-deception mothers to arise. Mothers who will not be moved from their homes and who will guard their children and homes with all diligence.
 
Don’t be lured away, dear mother. No one, no matter how professional they are, can ever replace you, your children’s mother! You are more important than you realize.
 
Blessings to you today,
 
Nancy Campbell
 
 
Painting: Maria Roeva
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KINDLE THE FIRE OF HOSPITALITY

HospitalityHospitality should be part of our lives all through the year but Christmas is such a lovely time for special functions.
 
We have many traditional family functions which we love to celebrate. We love to celebrate Hanukkah and Christmas.
 
We don’t celebrate Christmas in a commercial way but love to take this time to meditate on the miraculous conception and birth of our Savior and to share special family times. Today we woke up to snow and minus 2 degrees. A freezing day but so blessed to have snow for Christmas.
 
Tonight we sang carols by candlelight in our home and sang them with all the gusto of our hearts, remembering again that Jesus came to this world in such humility, entering as a seed into the womb of a woman and yet He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
 
Come thou long-expected Jesus,
All creation groans for Thee,
We all yearn for Thy appearing,
When Thy glory we shall see.
As the wise men and the shepherds
Bowed before Thee as Thou lay,
So all men from every nation
Shall all bow on that great Day!
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THE WAR AGAINST THE WOMB

WarWombI am meditating on the awesomeness of Christ coming into this world. Bible commentators agree that Jesus was not born at this Christmas time when the world remembers His birth. He would most probably have been born about the month of September during the Feast of Tabernacles. However, this is most probably that time that He was divinely conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost. Incredible. God coming to the earth as a "seed" from the Father.
 
Yes, He came as a “seed” and yet He was the King of kings.
 
Although it happened without the world knowing, it was the most powerful event in history. Christ, the Son of God, growing inside a mother's womb, becoming flesh, dying, and shedding His blood for our sins, and bruising the head of Satan. Although it was all prophesied, it was not how the Jews expected their Messiah to come.
 
But from the womb of a lowly woman God brought forth His Son to fulfill His plan for the ages. He came as a baby, but it was to deal a death blow to the enemy, to bruise his head (Colossians 2:14 and Hebrews 2:14-18). This is a time to remember that we are in a battle, a battle between the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light.
 
God spoke to the serpent in Genesis 3:15 (NET): "I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel." Satan still tries to bruise our heel, but Christ has bruised his head and He will have the final victory when all nations and all people will be brought into subjection to His power and authority.
 
One translation of Genesis 3:15states: "There will be war." There is still a war against the womb of the woman. Satan tried to prevent Jesus, the Holy Son of God, being born into this world. Because he hates life, and especially the godly seed, he continues to stop children being born into this world. He brings his deception to women to deny the fruit of their womb. So many women today do not value their womb even though it is their most distinguishing feature as a woman. So of course, they cannot even answer the question, “What is a woman?”
 
Let's not be tricked by the devil's plan.
 
Blessings from Nancy Campbell
 
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WHAT ARE YOU FILLED WITH?

WhatFiledWithWhat are you filled with this Christmas? Many folks have cars filled with gifts, homes filled with decorations, tables filled with food, and stockings filled with things we will never use. We are filled to over the top. However, when we read about the birth of Jesus, we find that instead of being filled with the things of the world, they were filled with the Holy Ghost!
 
* The angel came to Zacharias and told him that he would have a son who would be "FILLED with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb (Luke 1:15-17).
 
* When Mary came to visit her cousin Elisabeth during her sixth month of pregnancy, the moment she greeted her “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was FILLED with the Holy Ghost: and she spake out with a loud voice” (Luke 1:41-42).
 
* At the circumcision celebration for John the Baptist, his father, Zacharias was "FILLED with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied” (Luke 1:67).
 
* Jesus was conceived by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT COMING UPON Mary (Matthew 1:20 and Luke 1:35).
 
* When Joseph and Mary took baby Jesus to the temple to be dedicated, Simeon, a man FILLED with the Holy Spirit and waiting for the coming of the Messiah, took him up in his arms and blessed God (Luke 2:25-28).
 
* During Jesus' childhood he was FILLED with wisdom (Luke 2:40).
 
The challenge is: what are we filled with as we remember the birth of Christ? Are we filled with anxiety and busyness or are we filled with the Holy Spirit? Imagine if we spent as much time seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit as rushing around buying gifts and preparing for Christmas. What would happen? Imagine if we took time to listen to the Holy Spirit. What would He say to us? What difference would it make in our lives and in our homes? Imagine if we asked the Holy Spirit to lead us instead of doing our own agenda. How would He direct us?
 
May you enjoy a FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT Christmas or Hanukkah if you are celebrating Hanukkah.
 
Love from Nancy Campbell
 
How I love this painting of Simeon, FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, holding Jesus in his arms, and blessing him (Luke 1:25-32).
 
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Above Rubies Address

AboveRubies
Email Nancy

PO Box 681687
Franklin, TN 37068-1687

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