Dear Above Rubies readers,

I am going to send you out a few thoughts about the birth of Jesus each day until Christmas. I pray you will be very blessed. If you don’t have time to read them each day, print them off so you can take time to ponder them over the Christmas period, or even read them to the whole family. I know that you, all your family, and friends too, will be blessed as you share them.

Much love, Nancy

WHAT FILLS YOUR HEART THIS CHRISTMAS? 

“Be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). 

What do you think of at Christmas? To many people Christmas is coming home from shopping with a car 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.

Does this picture relate to the story we read of Jesus’ birth in the New Testament? Yes, the birth of Jesus is a time of filling, but a different kind of filling. It is the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Nearly everyone associated with the birth of Jesus was filled and empowered with the Holy Ghost. Let’s have a look…

The birth of John the Baptist

The angel came to Zacharias and told him that he would have a son who would prepare the way for the coming of Jesus. He said in Luke 1:15-17, “He shall be filled with the Holy Ghost,even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.”

God was true to His word and Elisabeth, Zacharias’ wife conceived. Mary came to visit her during her pregnancy and the moment Mary greeted Elisabeth, “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Luke 1:41)

John was born with great joy. At his circumcision, when Zacharias announced his name would be called John, “Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied” (Luke 1:67).

The birth of Jesus

Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:35 says, “And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God.” Read also Matthew 1:18, 20.

After Jesus was born, Joseph and Mary took him to the temple to be dedicated. At the temple was a man named Simeon who was filled with the Holy Ghost. Luke 2:25-28 tells us more about him. He was “just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus… then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God…”

Simeon walked and lived in the power of the Holy Spirit. He listened to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Because he was in tune with the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit was able to reveal to him about Jesus and He led him, by the Spirit, into the temple at the very right moment that Joseph and Mary brought Jesus. As Simeon held Jesus in his arms, he also prophesied by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Luke 2:34-35)

Anna, a widow of 84 years, who “served God with fastings and prayers night and day” also prophesied by the Holy Spirit. (Luke 2:37-38)

The challenge is: what are we going to be filled with this Christmas? It should be a time to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Imagine what could happen if we spent as much, or more time, seeking to be filled with the Holy Spirit as rushing around buying gifts and preparing for Christmas. Imagine if we took time to listen to the Holy Spirit. What would we learn?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? Who would He lead us to speak to? What kind of Christmas would we organize?

Don’t you think it would be exciting? The birth of Jesus was not ordinary. It was supernatural. Everything that happened was miraculous. People were filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit.

Why don’t we put aside our own agenda for a moment and ask the Holy Spirit what He wants us to do. Let Him direct us and lead us at this Christmas time. Can we let the Lord fill us with His Holy Spirit and fill our homes with His Spirit? Oh what a difference!

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL 

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I ask that you will lead me by your Holy Spirit. I want to hear your voice speaking to me. Please direct me the way you want me to go. Fill my life with your Holy Spirit. Fill our home with your Holy Spirit. May the anointing of the Holy Spirit be preeminent in all our lives this Christmas.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am listening to be led by the power of the Holy Spirit.

WALK IN THE LIGHT—
From the dawn into the full sunlight!

“Come and let us walk in the light of the Lord”
(Isaiah 2:5).

Blessed Hanukkah season to those who love to celebrate Hanukkah!

This evening is the beginning of Hanukkah, which is known in the New Testament as the Feast of Dedication. Hanukkah is not one of the feasts of the Lord, but was instituted during the time of the Maccabees who won the victory over the Syrian Greeks and re-occupied the Temple in Jerusalem in 165 BC. The Talmud records the story that when they captured the Temple, they only had one day’s supply of oil, but the oil miraculously burned for eight days until fresh oil could be obtained. It is also called the Festival of Lights and is celebrated by lighting the eight-branched menorah for eight days. John 10:22-23 records that Jesus also celebrated this feast.

Because Hanukkah speaks of light, I thought I would share with you a few thoughts about light. God is light and He wants us to walk in His light.

Created

We were created to walk in light. The light God wants us to walk in is the Hebrew word “or” and it means “illumination, brightness, daylight, sunlight.”

Called

We have been called into light. 1 Peter 2:9 admonishes us to “show forth the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous (amazing and wonderful) light.”

When we are born again into the kingdom of God, we are translated out of the kingdom of darkness into a kingdom of wonderful light. The darkness flees. Deception disintegrates. We leave the path of destruction behind to pursue a life of light. The light is amazing. But although it is such a contrast from the darkness we have lived in, we do not always experience the fullness of His light immediately. We come out of darkness into the light of dawn.

Oh how I love the dawn. I love to look out of the window each morning and watch the dawn appearing. I can go to bed tired but wake up refreshed at the light of dawn. I can go to bed with a sore throat and wake up healed at the light of dawn. The dawn awakens the excitement of a new day and all its possibilities. It reminds us of God’s faithfulness that day and night will not cease. But the dawn is not the full light. There is more. It lightens more and more as the hours go by.

In the same way, we should experience more and more of God’s light. Our Christian life is to be a “more and more” walk.As we seek after God, He continues to expose more deceptions and dark places in our lives. As we repent of them and continue seeking, He leads us into more light. As we live in His Word, He pours more and more of the light of His truth into our darkened minds. Little by little, we walk more and more in the light of the Lord until it is like the midday sun.

I have always loved Proverbs 4:18 RSV which says, “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.”

David confessed, “That I might live, ever mindful of God, in the sunshine of life.” (Psalm 56:13, Moffat) Isn’t that wonderful? Don’t be content to live in the light of the dawn, as wonderful as that is. There is more! Live in the full midday sun of God’s marvelous light.

Commissioned

We have also been commissioned to shine our light. Jesus is the light of the world and amazingly He tells us that we also are the light of the world. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

May we live “more and more” in the light of God and shining this light to those around us.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Oh God, I thank you that I was destined to live in light. Please expose every bit of darkness in my life so that I can walk in the fullness of your marvelous light. Help me to walk in the light with my husband, my family and my brothers and sisters in Christ. Help me to shine my light to all I meet today. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am a light-shiner to the world because the Light of the world lives in me!

GOD LOVES SHEEP—THAT MEANS YOU!

“And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were sore afraid. And the angel of the Lord said unto them, Fear not for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you are born this day, in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 8-11).

Today’s thoughts are not from me, but from my sister, Kate. Kate and I are both familiar with sheep. Our father, Ivan Bowen who passed away a couple of years ago, designed the way shearing is done across the world and he was the fastest shearer in the world in his prime. Kate also shepherded a flock of sheep when she lived up in the Caribou of Canada. She has a special love for sheep. I know you will be blessed by her thoughts.

God Chooses the Poor and Despised!

The Palestinian shepherds in Bible days were despised by society. They were not allowed to give testimony in a court of law as they were considered unreliable. Doesn’t it astonish you that God chose the despised members of society, those with unreliable testimony, to be witnesses of the most important message of all time? He entrusted them with a message that was foretold by prophets hundreds of years before and would change the course of history. If it was me, I would make sure this message was given to the most influential, reliable men of the nation to ensure it was accurately broadcast world-wide. Yet, how God is this! His ways are greater than our ways (Isaiah 55:8).

I believe these ancient shepherds were good shepherds. I was a shepherdess in Northern British Columbia, Canada for a time, and as I worked with the flock, I experienced something of the heart of the shepherd. The sheep pulled at my heartstrings. I believe these shepherds would have had tender hearts.

They would also have been physically tough as they braved the elements. They were watchmen, always on the lookout for predators, or the enemy that would attack the flock. Remember how David contended with the lion and the bear? In fact, a shepherd never rests until the entire flock is safe in the fold, especially at night. “There were ninety and nine that safely lay in the shelter of the fold, but one was out on the hills away, far from the gates of the fold…” This old hymn speaks of the shepherd going out to look for the one astray. I had to do this many times in my shepherding days.

These ancient shepherds were courageous, too, willing to lay down their lives for the sheep. And, ultimately, they were a living illustration of the Great Shepherd of the Sheep. God saw beyond what society perceived these shepherds to be, and saw their tender, courageous hearts.

God Chooses the Sheep!

Not only were the shepherds there when the angels appeared, but who else? The sheep! The shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night. As we fast forward two thousand years later, we peer back into this divine hallowed moment in history and see ourselves represented through the sheep. Again, how God is this! He does not make mistakes. What does God liken us to in the Bible? Sheep! It is one of the recurring themes throughout Scripture--the shepherd and his sheep. On looking through one of my daughter’s Bible story books, this same passage was illustrated with bright lights beaming on the shepherds. But, I was fascinated to see that the illustrator had perceptively drawn the cute little sheep with their heads looking up at this glorious light also!

All we like sheep! They go astray, wandering off unaware of the dangers from under the shepherd’s care. They get dirty. They’re stubborn, often stupid--although not dumb as is the popular belief. They’re vulnerable and need constant attention. In fact, the flock cannot survive without the shepherd. Sound familiar! In spite of this, the sheep are entirely loveable.

Today, as 21st century sheep of His flock, we are witnesses to and of this amazing proclamation that the savior of the world is born and has come. In the business of this season, let us remind ourselves that we carry this great proclamation wherever we go–in our homes, into the city streets, into the stores, on the road, as we go out and come in. Whatever we are doing, this proclamation is with us. And remember, it is backed by a multitudinous heavenly choir! It is the message of hope in these troubled times.

Truly He is the king, worthy of proclamation!

KATE MARCHINIAK, NANCY’S SISTER.
www.aboverubies.org

The Grandest Theme!

“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).

What is the central theme of the Bible? It is the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, upon the cross. The Old Testament Scriptures point to it from Genesis 3:15 onward. The daily sacrifices, with the shedding of blood, from Exodus onward, reveal God’s ultimate intention. It is the highest theme of the New Testament. Shouldn’t it then be the most preeminent premise in my life? And if so, shouldn’t it be the grandest theme of our home?

The old hymn says, “'Tis the grandest theme thro' the ages rung; ‘Tis the grandest theme for a mortal tongue; ’Tis the grandest theme that the world e’er sung.” This challenges me to the core. Is my family truly aware that this theme is the “glory” of our home? Do people who come into my home pick this up? What about your home?

How can we bring the cross of Christ to the fore in our home each day? I am thinking of a few practical ways:

 1. Thank Him Morning and Evening

God always gives practical ways to reveal His truth. In Old Testament days the children of Israel sacrificed a “lamb without blemish” every morning and every evening (Exodus 29:38-39). We know that this pointed to the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world. God made sure that it was not a haphazard habit, but a daily ritual. He wanted to get it into the very core of their beings.

I think this is a good principle for us too. We show our children that the cross is our grandest theme when we come before the Lord as a family every morning and evening, and during our prayer times, thank the Lord for His salvation and His blood that was shed for our sins.

 2. Sing Hymns and Songs about the Blood

We have many wonderful worship songs that we sing at church today. However, we rarely sing songs about the blood of Jesus. Why should this be when it is the preeminent focus of God’s Word?

Perhaps you could resurrect some of the old hymns that speak about the blood and teach them to your children. Sing a hymn about the cross of Jesus or the blood of Christ at your Family Devotions morning and evening. If it is the grandest theme in our family, won’t we want to sing about it?

We only have salvation through Jesus’ blood, we only have deliverance through His blood and we only have healing through His blood. Let your children grow up singing hymns like, “Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

 3. Take Communion

When I grew up, we took communion faithfully every week at church. Today, many churches only take communion once a month, or even less. I don’t think we can do it too much.

Every time we partake of the bread and the wine (or the grape juice) we remember the death of our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23-30). You don’t have to wait to do this at church. You can do it in your home. You can do it as many times as you want.

We love to remember the cross of Christ when we take the bread and wine at our weekly Shabbat meal.

 4. Relate the Cross to your Life

Jesus’ death upon the cross was not only a fact in history. It relates to every moment and every situation of our lives.Jesus didn’t pour out His life and blood to leave us in the bondage of our sin; He died to deliver us from the bondage to self and this evil world (2 Corinthians 5:15 and Galatians 1:4).

The cross touches every facet of our lives. In every situation we are either “crucified with Christ” and die to our stubbornness, selfishness and “own way” or we refuse the power of the cross in our lives (Galatians 2:20). As we learn to acknowledge that we are “crucified with Christ” and instead allow His life to live through us, we will walk in victory.

We will also show to our children that the power of the cross still works in the 21^st century. We will not only show by example, but teach our children how to apply the cross to their lives in every selfish and sinful situation they face. This is the most powerful teaching you can give to your children.

 5. Memorize Salvation Scriptures 

Teach your children basic Scriptures about the cross of Jesus Christ and His blood.

Make the cross be the grandest theme in your home.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Jesus, I thank you for being the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. I thank you that you shed your precious, pure blood for my sin. I thank you that your sacrificial death works powerfully in me every day because I was crucified when you were crucified and now I live in resurrection life as you do. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

“Oh, precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

SOME SCRIPTURES ABOUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS

Acts 20:28; Ephesians 1:7; 2:13; Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:7; 11-28; 10:4-10; 19-20; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; 5:9; 7:14; 12:11.

SOME HYMNS ABOUT THE CROSS AND THE BLOOD OF JESUS (you can check out the words by doing a Google search).

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus
There’s Power in the Blood
There is a Fountain Filled with Blood
Are you washed in the Blood?
Wounded for me
I’m not ashamed to own my Lord
My Hope is built on Nothing Less
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
King of my life, I Crown Thee Now
“Man of Sorrows,” what a Name
Alas! And did my Saviour Bleed?
Jesus, Keep me Near the Cross
Calvary Covers it All

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