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.

The vision for Meat for Men — UNCOMPROMISING MANHOOD blog is to encourage husbands, fathers and single men in Biblical manhood.

STEPS TO PEACEMAKING 2 - PEACEMAKING REQUIRES PRAYER

FreventPrayerBefore even attempting to face a volatile situation that needs peace ministered to it, it is imperative to be much in prayer. Jesus Christ is the Prince of peace and if there is a possibility to bring about His peace we will need to do some serious praying.

Unfortunately, we often rush into troubled waters in order to bring about our own wisdom and logic without praying and we only make matters worse.

Prayer must be fervent, not casual, ritualistic (going through the motions). James 5:16 says: "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

If both parties who are clashing would seriously go to prayer, either separately or together, most problems could be resolved without even having to have special counseling.

Isaiah 9:6, 7 says: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end." He is most worthy to be called on in troubled times. All nations and kings shall one day come and bow down at His feet and seek His counsel of peace.

In view of the fact that all the great national and international problems of the world will be resolved by His counsel and wisdom, why should we not as individuals bring all our troubled relationships to Him? Isaiah 2:4 says: "And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords and plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3398 Hits

STEPS TO PEACEMAKING

BlessedPeacemakers1. WE MUST UNDERSTAND THE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD EXERCISE PEACEMAKING

Psalm 133 talks about the beauty of unity, likening it to the fragrant, sweet, holy anointing oil of the Holy Spirit which is upon our heavenly High Priest and flows down from His head to all parts of His body garments. Unity is also likened to the fresh dew of Hermon. It is also the peace of the commanded blessings and everlasting life (Psalm 133).

Jesus spoke much on the absolute importance of unity. Many families and churches are torn apart because of disunity, which seriously affects the anointing from flowing with all of its blessings.

In John 17:21 Jesus states that through the oneness and unity of His people the world will believe that God sent Christ into the world. John 17:23 tells us that maturity can only be obtained through unity.

Until we deal with jealousies, hatreds, and strife it is not possible for us to be brought to perfection. We are exhorted in Ephesians 4:3: "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." The word "endeavor" in the Greek means "to make an effort, to be earnest, to give diligence."

We will share much more on this subject, but with the above few Scriptures alone, we can grasp the absolute importance of peacemaking.

Train your children to be godly peacemakers.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3855 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PEACEMAKERS, No. 4 - STRIVE FOR PEACE

Peacemakers 4Psalm 34:14: "Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it."

This Scripture is preceded by the words: "What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile" (verses 12, 13).

Throughout life we face many challenges that try to both disturb and destroy, not only our own peace, but the peace of our families and friends. Our flesh nature often enjoys gossiping, criticisms, arguments, and debates. The base side of man easily succumbs to the tantalizing delicacies of the sordid side of our culture. The tabloids are still in!

If our society is going to have real peace there are certain conditions we have to meet. We have to pay a price for peace. What is the price? We must earnestly seek after it.

In seeking peace we find we have to change our ways. We may have to repent of certain things. We may have to consult the road map much more than we currently do. Seeking requires active searching. Just as men set their hearts to search for God, they have to prioritize their lives. Hard work and difficult challenges are just a part of the price we pay. We must earnestly endeavor to pursue peace.

God gives peace, but not without a plan or a road map.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3944 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PEACEMAKERS, No. 3 - KEEP GOD'S COMMANDMENTS

Peacemakers4Proverbs 3:1, 2: "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments; For length of days, and long life, and PEACE, shall they add to thee."

Men, all the laws and commandments of God promoted by Jesus Christ and the apostles to be applicable to Gentile Christians bring peace when we obey them. Many Old Testament laws applying to the Old Testament temple sacrifices obviously cannot apply to New Testament believers. However, many Old Testament laws and commandments are promoted and taught in the New Testaments. These laws and commandants, taken from the Old Covenant and added to the New Testament (covenant), if loved and obeyed will bring peace to those who apply them.

As to how much importance New Testament Christians should place on the Old Testament laws is briefly and simply answered in Acts 15:19-32. The apostles and elders ended their letter to the Gentile Christians with these words in verses 28 and 29: "For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well." As fathers, we will do well to make this passage of Scripture the rule for our families.

It seems to me that the commandment against fornication is largely ignored by modern day Christians, to our peril. Sexual promiscuity is not being addressed by the leaders of our churches as a primary sin of which we must repent and put away from our families and churches. Fornication is running rampart in our nation in all institutions of government, education, and media. Churches everywhere, small and large, are infected.

Fathers, we must take responsibility now, right now! Do not leave it to the church leaders to address this subject, but faithfully address it in your family. As fathers, we cannot ignore this admonition from the leaders of the early church, which also seemed good doctrine of the Holy Ghost.

Psalm 119:165: "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3197 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PEACEMAKERS, No. 2. - THE KISS OF PEACE

Peacemakers2Luke 19:41, 42: "And when he (Jesus) was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it. Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes."

As true Christian parents we must teach our children the biblical principles on how to be the peacemakers Jesus was talking about in His Sermon on the Mount.

The big question is: What are the things that belong to peace? Whatever these things are, we as parent should know them and teach them diligently to our children. Mankind is forever searching for peace, but all too often, we look in the wrong direction. Multitudes have followed those who have promised peace, but sadly been deceived. Multitudes are still to this day deceived by slick, smart talkers who know not the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), who alone holds the golden keys to the true principles of peace.

1. RIGHTEOUSNESS
One of the greatest prerequisites for peace is righteousness, lived out in the lives of both the individual as well as the city, state, and nation. Even righteousness itself cannot be fully known and experienced without a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace. Outside of Christ is self-righteousness which genders to pride and self-aggrandizement.

Righteousness in its most simple form is right living. Only God Himself, who created man knows how man can live righteously and there is only one person and one book where we can find the answer--Jesus Christ who is the greatest teacher of the Bible.

The greatest love affair with the greatest kiss is when righteousness kisses peace. This is the kiss of kisses. Peace like a river is the highest quest of mankind, but its only the truly righteous who receive this kiss of peace.

Psalm 85:10: "Mercy and truth are met together: righteousness and peace have kissed each other."

Isaiah 32:17: "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3163 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PEACEMAKERS, NO. 1.

BlessedPeacemeakersMatthew 5:9: "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."

Isaiah 59:8: "The way of peace they know not."

Men, peacemaking is very much part of God's heart. Peacemaking identifies the real children of God. Jesus Christ who is the Prince of Peace said so himself. The doctrine of peace is a major subject throughout all of Scripture.

The headline breaking news on TV is anything but peace. It seems that the whole world is full of crime, bloodshed, corruption, stress, and enmity. Many of our cities are experiencing a much greater increase in murder and violence. We live in a time of ever-increasing lawlessness and police are hard pushed to know how to handle it.

Much of what is happening in our streets can be traced back to homes where children have not been taught the biblical values that make for peace. Isaiah 59:8 states: "The way of peace they know not: and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace."

This nation, like many other nations in the world, is in desperate need of God-fearing fathers and mothers who will both live and teach "the way of peace." Somehow, with all our getting of material things and cramming our heads full of all types of knowledge, we have completely missed the knowledge of the way of peace.

We know how to fight and make war. We know how to tear our families apart. We know how to criticize and beat each other up with hurtful words. And we know how to divide and split our families and churches. How can we call ourselves the children of God when we do not know how to be peacemakers?

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3254 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PURE HEARTS, NO. 11 - FATHERS WHO SEEK THE LORD NEEDED

fathers-prayerMen, our families desperately need fathers who seek the Lord. Those who take their place in Christ's heavenly places are best suited to reach down and touch the lowest and most needy places on earth (Psalm 113:4-8).

Psalm 84:5-7 says: "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God."

Those that belong to the generation of them that seek Him will quickly discover that our Advocate Messiah is risen to the Father's right hand to a place of unlimited power and authority. He now willingly shares all that He has inherited with the generation of them that seek Him. We who seek Him are now His agents through whom He governs the world.

What amazing grace He has bestowed upon us that we should be called "the sons of God" (1 John 3:1). This is not just a pretty title that has no great significance. On the contrary, this title explains our function. The title Senator or Congressman means that the person who carries the name is involved with creating laws and dispensing governmental control. The same applies to the "sons of God." The "sons of God" are the generation of them that seek Him. They also take their position in Christ at the Father's right hand in order to govern the world and dispense His righteousness and saving power to a very need world.

The "sons of God" are avid seekers of God. They know what it means to be led by His Spirit. Romans 8:14 says: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  2990 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PURE HEARTS, NO. 10 - IN CHRIST ALONE

InChristAlonePsalm 24:6 says: "This is the generation of them that seek Him." Who will lay hold of the truth of what it really means to be seated with Christ in heavenly places, in the highest mountain of all?

I quoted Psalm 24:3 in a previous post on this subject: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?" We read the answer in verses 4, 5: "He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

Psalm 24 mainly applies to the Messiah. None of us can claim that we are innocent enough to climb to the summit of the heavenly Mt. Zion. Moses was able to fulfill the call of God to climb up the earthy Mt. Sinai and see God. However, we can only climb to the top of the heavenly mountain and participate in the power, authority, and all the multiplied blessings by our being in Christ. It is in Christ that we have His "wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30).

In order to reign in righteousness over all the circumstances we face in our lives we must stand by faith in this heavenly place we have been raised to in Christ.

It boggles the mind to try and even comprehend the enormity of God's grace that has placed us in this highly, exalted position at the Father's right hand. It is only the generation of them that seek him who will know the reality of what it means to be seated with Christ in heavenly places. The truth of this mountain top experience with Christ must be driven home to our hearts.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3094 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PURE HEARTS, NO. 9 - MOUNTAINS ARE NOT EASY TO CLIMB continued.

CelestialCityExodus 20:21: "And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was."

It is so much easier to view mountains from a distance. Many like to view mountains in movies or photographs in a book and this is the way many Christians view God's mountain. However, only those who put climbing boots on their feet and resolve in their hearts to conquer God's mountain will have a real living testimony to talk about. The great benefits of God's heavenly Mt. Zion are only experienced by those who actually climb it.

Moses was not content to stay the bottom of Mt. Sinai even when it was on fire with "the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumplet, and the mountain smoking." When God called him to come up, he faced the challenge and climbed up to meet with God, but the people stood afar off (Exodus 20:18-21).

There are too many Christians standing afar off. Positionally God has raised us up and seated us all together with Christ at the Father's right hand in the heavenly places. This is the mountain of mountains, the highest of all. This is the Everest of all mountains. God has not only called us up, but He has legally placed us on a throne in Christ with our name upon it. The difficulty that we face is the will, the courage, and the faith to personally position ourselves in our legal inheritance. This is the battle and this is the challenge.

Fathers, I think it would be a good exercise when your children are old enough to take them on a mountain climb. Climb it together and talk about the comparison and the lessons to be learned.

The city of God is seen from the top of the mountain. Revelation 21:10 says: "And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3065 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PURE HEARTS, NO. 8 - MOUNTAINS ARE NOT EASY TO CLIMB

MountainClimbThere are men who love mountains and yet never give a thought for God. Some love to view mountains from a distance. I must admit I enjoying doing this; it does my heart good.

Climbing mountains is another thing for it has many challenges, dangers, and risks. Climbing mountains puts one in intimate touch with all that the mountain represents. If viewing from a distance stirs the heart of man, how much more is the heart affected and awed when actually facing giant precipices, dangerous crevices, and awe-inspiring waterfalls as they cascade down from dizzying heights. The challenge of climbing to the summit is what really fires up the blood of mountain climbers.

Psalm 24:3 asks the question: "Who shall ascend into the hill (mountain) of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?"

Although it's wonderful to view THE MOUNTAIN ONF THE LORD with all its grandeur, we must step by step climb the mountain and experience all that it has to offer. As fathers, we must encourage our wives and children in all the blessings God's mountain provides.

To be continued.

Be encouraged Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3039 Hits

GOD'S WORD WILL BE FULFILLED WHETHER WE BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

barometerA good example: Dr. E. Schuyler English once told of a man on Long Island who was able to satisfy a lifelong ambition by purchasing a very fine barometer.

When he unpacked the instrument, he was dismayed to find that the needle appeared to be stuck, pointing to the section marked "Hurricane." After shaking the barometer vigorously, the man wrote a scorching letter to the store from which he had purchased the instrument and, on his way to his office in New York the next morning, mailed the protest.

That evening he returned to Long Island to find not only the barometer missing, but his house also.

The barometer's needle had been right--there was a hurricane! (Campbell, Donald: Daniel God's Man in a Secular Society.)

Continue reading
0
  3241 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PURE HEARTS, NO. 7 - GOD'S MOUNTAIN MEN

MountainMenTo only give mental assent to have a pure heart is not enough. We must give it our earnest attention. Psalm 24:3 asks the question: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?" Verse 4 answers the question: "He that hath clean hands, and a PURE HEART; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully." While I believe this psalm's first application applies to the Messiah who has been raised to sit at the right hand of God, it's second application applies to the generation of those who seek God's face.

Psalm 24: 6 says: "This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah." Selah--pause and calmly think about that! It is the pure in heart who seek (actively desire) the face of the Lord. Matthew 5:8 reminds us that the pure in heart are blessed by seeing God.

Men, we owe it to God, our family, our friends, and ourselves that we become the generation of men and fathers who daily order our hearts to seek God with pure hearts. This is how we become mountain men.

Legally, by virtue of Christ's finished work on the cross, we are are already positionally seated with Christ in the spiritual mountain in the heavenly places. Ephesians 2:6 says that God has "raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." However, we must experientially and practically work this truth out in our lives.

This passage especially applies to God's praying people. God permitted Moses and the nobles of Israel this privilege (Exodus 24:11). God gave Peter, James, and John this privilege (Mark 9:2-7).

Men, the world we live in is desperate for "mountain men." These are men who really seek to know God, not only know about God. These are men who climb mountains with God as did Abraham. Genesis 14: 12 says: "Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom." Far too many fathers live their lives on the plain with their tents (family life) facing Sodom (the world).

Men, let us be like Abraham and climb all of God's mountains.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3361 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PURE HEARTS, NO. 6.

WashAwayHebrews 9:14: "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

The only way for us to have pure hearts in order to see God is to appropriate, or stake our claim, in the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ. We must be men who daily take advantage of this purifying power.

The conscience is closely associated with our hearts. Hebrews 10:22 says: "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience." Hebrews 12:24 also talks about "the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel."

God desires pure-hearted men in order to accomplish His purposes on the earth. You cannot watch pornography or anything else that promotes lust without having your conscience defiled. The devil is flooding this world through the media and electronic devices with all types of depraved violence and lust. He does this to pollute the human heart so it cannot see God, let alone know God.

As men and fathers we must avail ourselves of the continual cleansing power of Christ's blood. We must not allow any defiling influence to defile or weaken our heart's desires toward the call of God upon our lives.

Revelation 12:11: "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  4012 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PURE HEARTS, NO. 5

LordSpokeMoses cried out to God, "I beseech thee, show me thy glory" (Exodus 33:18). Men, the enemy of our souls will do all that he can to stop us from truly seeing God.

Many will say they see God in all of nature surrounding us and that is enough. There is a biblical basis for beholding God in creation. Romans 1: 20 says: "For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and God head, so that they are without excuse." However, it is possible to see God in creation and yet not really see Him.

Moses obviously saw Him in creation as well as experiencing His holy presence at the burning bush (Exodus 3:2-6).
Moses met with God on the top of Mt. Sinai when God gave him the Ten Commandments. He dwelt in the immediate presence of God for forty days and forty nights (Exodus 30).
Along with Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, plus the seventy elders of Israel, Moses saw God (Exodus 24:9-11).
Moses spake with God "face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend" (Exodus 33:11).

Anyone else would have been satisfied, but not Moses. In Exodus 34:13 he earnestly prays: "I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight."

In verse 18 he prays: "I beseech thee, show me thy glory."

Do we who have the privilege of seeing God through looking at His Son, Jesus Christ, have this same unquenchable desire to see more of God. Do we really want to know Him? Do we long to see His glory?

Is it impurity that robs us of this greater vision of God? Or is it plain apathy? In a sense, apathy is an impurity.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3117 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PURE HEARTS, NO. 4 - FAMILIES NEED PURE FATHERS

Colossians29Colossians 2:9, 10: "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power."

Men who set the eyes of their hearts to seek God for the purpose of deep and intimate relationship with Him will be those who best reflect and mirror Christ to a needy world. It is not purity of our own manufacturing that enables us to see God, but purity that we receive by our abiding relationship in Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 1:30, 31: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."

Personal holiness that enables us to see God is not self-manufactured. Self-manufactured holiness is deception, cloaked in pride, and is not acceptable to God. It is only as we lay claim to Christ's holiness to keep our heats pure that we will be able to see God. We must never have faith in our own righteousness or holiness to obtain favor with God.

God the Father has given us all the privileges of claiming and pleading the holiness of His Son without our help.

Men, the world today is full of distractions to turn away our eyes from looking at Jesus for our personal holiness. To have a real impact of purity upon our families, friends, and the world we must lay hold of Christ's holiness alone.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3351 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PURE HEARTS, NO. 3

PureHearts2John 14:8, 9: "Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him . . . he that hath seen me hath seen the Father."

Men, seeing God should always be the earnest desire of our hearts, and all of God's people. Those who are truly converted to Christ are indwelt by the Holy Spirit who seeks to focus our attention on Jesus Christ.

How often have we sung . . .
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace."

God, the Father has privileged us to see Him and what He is like by sending His beloved Son into this world. By looking at Jesus the Son we see God the Father.

The world right now is in desperate need for a church made up of true born again families who have their eyes firmly fixed on Jesus Christ. If our eyes are not upon Jesus, the question is, what are we looking at? We always reflect what we look at.

Children desperately need fathers and mothers who steadfastly look at Jesus. How can we mirror Christ if we do not steadfastly look at Him?

2 Corinthians 3:18 says: "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3296 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PURE HEARTS, NO. 2

WithoutHolinessHebrews 12:14: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."

Men, the pure in heart are blessed by being able to see God. What an amazing blessing!

It is unfortunate that the doctrine of holiness is not preached enough these days. It's an unpopular subject because it goes against the casual and loose lifestyle of the modern day church. Wherever purity and the holiness of God are preached, people become more God-fearing, circumspect, and pure. God's people should always avoid unseemly and inappropriate behavior. Going off to watch and be entertained by movies that promote promiscuity, lust, and fornication deliberately defile the temple of God.

Youth groups within the umbrella of even our biggest and so-called best churches have a far-too-tolerant attitude toward fornication. I don't want to jump up and down on the soap box of holiness, denouncing all those around me. Far be it. However, the church in general is responsible, as well as parents, to make sure all its families and adherents know the truth regarding purity of heart as well as the doctrine of holiness.

Church attendance, praise and worship, knowing the Scriptures, and having lots of fun and fellowship is not enough to prepare us to see the Lord. We have to have holiness, and without it we will not see Him.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3452 Hits

GOD LOOKS FOR PURE HEARTS

PureHearts"Blessed are in the pure in heart: for they shall seek God" (Matthew 5:8).

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10).

As I write on this beatitude I feel a strong excitement welling up in me. I sense the Lord will give me some very challenging thoughts and revelations to share.

To have a pure heart in the midst of a polluted world is a miracle. However, the God we serve is pure and holy, far beyond our limited understanding, and our God is in the business of performing miracles. I think that the heart of man is where miracles are needed most, don't you?

Most civilized men seek to keep their physical bodies clean on a daily basis, but God is far more concerned with the cleanness of men's hearts than the cleanness of his body. The body of a man who is unwashed and unclean is difficult to be around for any length of time and most people shun his presence. However, although a man may clean himself ever so much in order to be acceptable in the presence of his fellow men, God smells the hearts of men and is not so concerned with his body.

The only fragrance that impresses the heart of our Holy God is the fragrance that comes up to Him from the pure hearts of His true people. Just as we don't like to be around smelly bodies, God does not like to be around smelly hearts where all sorts of filth and disgustingly dirty lusts are allowed to reign.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3694 Hits

REAL MEN

MenAtWork"Real men do the best job they can at whatever they are doing and wear the biggest smile in the world. No slow, slack, slouchy, sluggish and slovenly attitude. No grumbling, griping, complaining, winging, whining, and murmuring.

Real men stand up straight like a man, walk like a man, and work like a real man. Someone said, 'Too many people are ready to carry the stool when the piano needs to be moved.' The real man loves to roll up his sleeves, spit on his hands, bend his back, flex his muscles and wow, just see how that heavy piano gets moved!"

~ Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3982 Hits

THE MORE YOU SHOW MERCY, THE MORE YOU WILL RECEIVE MERCY

ShowMercyMen, according to the teachings of Christ in Matthew 6:7, it is the merciful who are promised continued mercy from God. We have all been shown amazing grace and mercy through the sacrifice of Christ's death on our behalf. But the grace of God which includes His mercy does not just stop there. It is also for our everyday lives.

Grace and mercy are also conditional. Jesus makes it clear that He expects each one of His disciples to be continually merciful, even as we expect Him to continually be merciful to us. Mercy is not a casual thing to be given out when one feels like it, which may not be very often.

Paul speaks of the sowing and reaping ministry in 2 Corinthians 9:6: "He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." Showing mercy is a giving ministry where, according to the measure of our giving, we shall also reap. Mercy is giving to people what they do not deserve. Many say that they will not give to a certain cause because they are to blame for the problem they are in. And yet mercy overlooks the individual's faults and gives anyway.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Continue reading
0
  3458 Hits

Above Rubies Address

AboveRubies
Email Nancy

PO Box 681687
Franklin, TN 37068-1687

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