BIBLE LANGUAGE OR FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Part 1

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness;
and all these things shall be added unto you”
(Matthew 6:33).

Above everyone else, mothers primarily teach their children to talk. They not only teach them their first words, but by their example, influence their way of speaking throughout their lives.

Although I speak the English language, I still have a New Zealand accent and continue to say many words we use Down Under that are unheard of here in the States. It’s amazing that even though nearly all of our grandchildren have been born in America they often come out with New Zealand words. Sometimes you can detect a New Zealand accent which they have received from their mothers.

I noticed the power of this the other day when reading Nehemiah 13. I have always loved the book of Nehemiah because it reveals how Nehemiah did not give up but continued building the walls and the gates of Jerusalem in the face of ridicule, opposition, and persecution. His enemies did everything to stop him building the wall.

We are also in a building career of building godly marriages and families. The devil doesn’t want us to do this and constantly seeks to thwart us from our great and high calling from God. We must also have the attitude of Nehemiah who when his adversaries tried to get him to come down from his building project, he replied: “I AM DOING A GREAT WORK, so that I CANNOT COME DOWN: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it hand come down you?” (Nehemiah 6:3).

Back to Nehemiah 13 which somehow, I hadn’t noticed before with all my reading of Nehemiah. Nehemiah became aware of a huge problem. Many of the Jews had “married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab” (v. 23). And guess what? Their children “could not speak in the Jews’ language, but each according to the language of each people” (v. 24). Wow! The children were growing up speaking a foreign language. They didn’t even know the language of the land, the language of their heritage!

And who was teaching them these foreign languages? THE MOTHERS! The mothers were not only influencing the children but the whole nation!

Nehemiah soon put a stop to this. You can read what he did in verses 25-28. He certainly didn’t “beat about the bush.”

But dear mother, this incident is also a challenge to us. I know you are teaching your children the English language because you live in America but are you also teaching them the language of the kingdom of God. Ultimately, this is the most important language we must teach our children. If we belong to God’s kingdom, we should certainly teach them the language of His kingdom.

Of course, we can’t teach our children language of the kingdom if we don’t know it—if we DON’T KNOW WHAT GOD SAYS IN HIS WORD! Sadly, I hear most of the church speaking the language of the kingdom of our enemy, Satan. They spout forth more ideology of his kingdom than they do of God’s kingdom. They are more familiar with the lifestyle and language of our humanistic society than of the lifestyle of the God’s Word.

God’s kingdom language should roll off our tongues. It should be familiar to our children so that they grow up speaking it. Instead we are often guilty of Hosea 8:12: where God says: “I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a STRANGE thing.” Isn’t that such an indictment to the people of God? That God’s words are strange to us and the language of humanism, liberalism, materialism, and the things of this world are more familiar than God’s ultimate truth?

What language are you speaking to your children today?

Love from Nancy Campbell

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear God, in Your love and mercy, You have delivered me from the kingdom of darkness and brought me into Your kingdom of truth and light. Therefore, I want to know and speak the language of Your kingdom. Teach me Your ways. Teach me Your truths. I want the language of Your kingdom to constantly roll off my lips. In Jesus’ name, Amen.,”

AFFIRMATION:

Don’t miss the podcast for wives and mothers each week:

LIFE TO THE FULL w/ Nancy Campbell

https://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com

CHEER UP!

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me”
(John 14:1).

“Please don’t give me these words,” you reply. “You don’t know what I am going through. I’m depressed, discouraged, and disappointed.”

BE OF GOOD CHEER

Listen to these words from Jesus in John 16:33: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but BE of GOOD cheer; I have overcome the world.” Some translations say, “Cheer up!” Others say, “Take heart!”

Jesus says these words to you when you are going through tribulation, not just when everything is rosy. He has the authority to say them to you because He has already overcome the world! He doesn’t only say “Cheer up,” but “be of GOOD cheer.”

BE OF GOOD COURAGE

God is an affirming God. He is always encouraging us through His Word. Psalm 27:14 says: “Wait on the LORD: be of GOOD courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Perhaps you feel weak and inadequate. Not only physically, but emotionally, and spiritually? Look up to the Lord. Wait on Him. He will bring courage and strength to your heart. Not just courage, but GOOD courage!

BE OF GOOD COMFORT

2 Corinthians 13:11 states: “Be of GOOD comfort.” And please read 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17: “Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.”

 Are you sorrowing or grieving? Have you lost a loved one? Have you suffered a miscarriage? Who can comfort the ache in your heart except God? He will comfort your sorrowing heart if you let him. And His comfort is GOOD comfort.

BE FREE FROM CARES

Are you cheered up yet? Just in case you haven’t taken hold of God’s wonderful promises to you yet, here is another one. 1 Peter 5:7 says: “Casting ALL your cares upon him; for he careth for you.”

Why can you give Him all your anxieties and troubles? Because, dear one, He cares for you. The word “cares” means “interested in.” God is interested in everything that happens in your life. He is Omniscient. He knows your every thought. He knows your thoughts next week and next month even though you don’t know them yet. He knows what is happening in your home right now. And He cares about it.

But He can’t do much about it until you give Him your anxieties. Instead of clasping them to yourself and constantly worrying about them, give them to Him. He is a GOOD God.

You don’t have to stay in the doldrums. God waits to cheer your heart.

Love from Nancy Campbell

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Father God, please forgive me for worrying about everything. I do not have to fret over one thing knowing that You are in perfect control. Help me to trust You completely. Amen,”

AFFIRMATION:

Because Jesus Christ lives in me, I can be cheery and full of joy instead of being in the doldrums and down in the mouth.

Don’t miss the podcast for wives and mothers each week:

LIFE TO THE FULL w/ Nancy Campbell

https://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com

WHICH WORLDVIEW?

“Thy word is true from the beginning;
and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever”
(Psalm 119:160).

Are we teaching our children from a biblical worldview or a humanist worldview? Here are some scenarios:

1. Your car is stolen. What is your response?

a) Mother: "Isn't it terrible that our car is stolen, children? However, even though it is so inconvenient for us we must not judge the one who stole it as God doesn't want us to judge anyone."

Or b) Mother: "Children, last night our car was stolen. We must pray for the person who stole it that God will convict him, and he will return it. You can see, children, how stealing is very selfish because it hurts and inconveniences the people they steal from. God's Word tells us that we must not steal (Exodus 20:15; Leviticus 19:11 and Ephesians 4:28). In fact, God says in 1 Corinthians 6:10 that no "Thieves . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God." God's puts His laws into the universe to bless us.

2. Your children lie to you. What is your response?

a) Mother at the breakfast table: "Remember yesterday I told you all that no one was to take any of the special cookies I baked for the party we are going to tonight? This morning I find that three cookies are missing. Who took them?"

Jacob: "I didn't, Mommy."

Ethan: "Neither did I!"

Olivia: "I would never do that."

Mother:  "There is no one else in this house who could take them. We're not starting breakfast until you own up." After a long time and children getting rather hungry, they own up!

Mother: "I'm so glad you owned up, but we shouldn't judge one another, so let's just get on with breakfast."

Or b) "Thank you for owning up children. But even worse than stealing the cookies is the fact that you lied to Mommy. Did you know that lying is very serious to God? The Bible says that "all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 21:8). When we are on God's side, we love truth because He is the God of truth. When we lie, we are on the devil's side because THE Bible tells us that the devil is a liar and the father of lies (John 8: 44). I want you to be children who are always on God's side. Therefore, Mommy is going to have to discipline you so you can learn the importance of not telling lies. We are going to cancel going to the party tonight." (Or whatever discipline is appropriate).

3. Neighbors are different. What is your response?

Emma: "Mommy, who are those people who moved in over the road from us? They have a little child, but they have two mommies instead of a mommy and a daddy."

a) Mother: "Yes, they are different from us, Emma. They are "gay" people, but we mustn't judge them. We wouldn't live that way, but today people are free to live whatever alternative lifestyle they want."

Or b) Mother: "Emma, I am so very sorry to have to tell you that these people are living the opposite way God intends us to live. God tells us in His Word that if two men or two women live together like a husband and wife that it is an abomination in God's sight. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5:3 that these things shouldn't even be mentioned among God's people. We'll look up some Scriptures later so you can see what God says. Of course, we will love them and pray for them because Jesus loves them, died for them, and wants to forgive them of their sin if they will repent and turn to Him. But we must always stand on God's side and stand against what God says is an abomination."

Dear mothers, of course you are seeking to lead your children in the ways of righteousness which means standing with God's Word, no matter what society says. We are either filling our children with the truth of God's Word or being sucked into the mantra of the humanists and the "religion of tolerance."

It doesn't matter whether it is disobedience, lying, abortion, euthanasia, "dying with dignity" or sexual immorality, we must always check out what God says in His Word and stick by it. And we must always remember that the truth of a subject in God's Word is not one Scripture, but what God says about that subject from Genesis to Revelation. Don't be mesmerized or propagandized along with so many in the church today who have succumbed to the "judge not that ye be not judged" chant in reply to all judgment of evil.

NANCY CAMPBELL

www.abovewrubies.org

PRAYER:

“Oh God, please save me from being caught up in the “t      tolerance movement” in our society today. Please help me to always be strong and stand fast to the truth of Your eternal Word. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I refuse to be dumbed down by the foolish philosophies of this world. I am living my life by the truth of God’s Word. It is my plumb line for every subject and every situation.

SSCRIPTURES OR SCENARIO 3:

Leviticus 18:22; 20:13, Romans 1:26-28, 32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-12; 1 Timothy 1:10; Jude 1:7; Revelation 21:8.

Don’t miss the podcast for wives and mothers each week:

LIFE TO THE FULL w/ Nancy Campbell

https://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com

YOU HAVE A BIG CAREER

“And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them,
if any man desire to be first, the same shall be the last of all,
and servant of all”
(Mark 9:35).

In what capacity do you like to introduce yourself? Some folks may introduce themselves as a teacher, singer, nurse, lawyer, or even a mother. Many pastors like to introduce themselves as Pastor So and So. They make sure they precede their name with the word, Pastor!

How did Paul introduce himself? When writing to the Romans Paul begins: “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ” and then he adds “called to be an apostle” (Romans 1:1).

What about Peter? Simon Peter also introduces himself as “a servant” and then he adds secondly “and an apostle of Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:1). Both these mighty men of God considered themselves to firstly be servants.

The word servant is “doulos” and literally means “a bondslave, one who is in permanent relation of servitude to another.”

Jesus himself confessed that He did not come “to be served but to SERVE, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28 ESV).

How do you look upon yourself? In this day of feminism and liberal theology a “servant” would be unthinkable. Isn’t it amazing that many Christians think they are better than the early apostles and even Jesus Himself? Are we too proud to be servants?

Dearest mother, when you feel overburdened and overworked and you have no time to do anything you want to do because all you do is serve others all day long, don’t despair! You are following the footsteps of Jesus. You are like the early apostles. You are in the perfect will of God.

Oh, I know you don’t like being a servant. None of us do. We are so fleshly and selfish. But do we really want to be increasingly more like Jesus? There’s no greater way than to serve. How blessed we are as wives and mothers. We are right in the very place where we can fulfil our serving ministry. We can joyfully serve in our homes all day long. We are in the very sphere where we can become like Jesus.

What way do you like to serve? We can serve grudgingly—sighing and complaining. Or we can serve joyfully. That takes the sting out of serving and relegates it to a high place.

We can serve faithfully. This is the serving that Jesus talks about in Matthew 25:21 where He says: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

You may have dreams of big things you want to do in your life and yet you feel there is no way you can fulfil them with all your little children hanging around you every minute of the day. Dear mother, be faithful to your menial, daily tasks. God sees them. As He sees you faithful in the little things, He will bless you in His time with bigger things.

Although I must interrupt my writing here. I don’t believe exactly what I have just written. Because I believe that no matter what “bigger things” you may one day accomplish in your life, nothing is as big as what you are doing now. Nothing is as big a bringing into this world an eternal soul that will live forever. Nothing is as big as pouring out your nurturing heart to your children. Nothing is as big as preparing and training them for God’s destiny here on earth. Your God-given mothering career influences nations, governments, generations, and eternity!

I hope you have the most wonderful day SERVING your husband and family.

NANCY CAMPBELL

www.aboverubies.org

PRAYER:

“Dear Lord Jesus, I am in awe that although You were the delight of Heaven, You were willing to come to this earth to serve. Please help me to see the blessing and power of serving and that serving is one of the BIGGEST things that I can do in my life. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

Don’t miss the podcast for wives and mothers each week:

LIFE TO THE FULL w/ Nancy Campbell

https://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com