Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Vows are indeed sacred and we should treat them with utmost respect, coupled with the fear of the Lord.

The divorce rate in America has made a mockery of holy wedlock, thus weakening God's high moral standard. Divorce should in no way be "the norm" of the Christian church. Sad to say, with approximately 50 percent of Christian marriages ending in divorce, it is pretty much "the norm" in this nation.

We who call ourselves Christians should be weeping over the sacrilege of our broken vows that invoke the name of our triune God. Sadly, we ask: Where are the tears? This does not mean that I, as a pastor, should not be merciful and understanding to those who have, for whatever reason, suffered the sadness and hurt suffered by break-up and divorce. The church should make every endeavor to help and support a suffering couples with all the love and care we can give.

The reason why we Christians of this 21st century cannot muster the strength to fight in this day of battle and experience a resounding victory over the perversity of the homosexual agenda is that we have become weak through our failure to stem the tide of divorce. Sad to say, unless we repent, the homosexuals will put the final nails in the coffin of holy wedlock between one man and one woman.

We must ask ourselves: Is God pleased with the state of the church for the way it treats the values of a Christ-like marriage for the world to see? Answer: Definitely not. In fact, quite the opposite. We must repent that the pearls of God's design for marriage have, and are being trampled on.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

We read in Scripture that marriage symbolizes the spiritual relationship that Christ, our heavenly Bridegroom has with His bride, the true church that is meant to be always seeking to please her ever-loving Husband. That is why we as the bride of Christ should steadfastly resist all efforts to pervert the marriage act and the ordinance of holy matrimony that God has blessed, not only within the church, but also outside of it.

The well-being of our nation is dependent on our allegiance to uphold the truth and our resistance to all that is false.

Men, we need to pray about the government taking control of the Internet. There is talk of them passing a bill, "Net Equality," but as usual, no one knows anything about it. Sound familiar? They will surely try to stop all opposition against gay marriage, etc. The Internet is a major bastion of our freedom of speech and we do not need the government taking control.

Pray, stand up, and speak out. Call your representative and be a voice.

Isaiah 59:19 says: "When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him." The standard needs standard-bearers. This means you and me.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

It would be a great testimony if all Christian businesses, and churches, who provide services for weddings would also follow her example and demonstrate to the world how deeply offended genuine Christians are regarding the defaming of marriage. The holy marriage ordinance, sanctioned by God for the purpose of joining together a man and a woman in holy matrimony has been abused and defiled. Homosexuals are trampling under their feet the holy things of God. Those who call themselves Christians and sanction this behavior need to read their Bibles a whole lot more in order to understand what God says about this subject.

Many argue that we should just love and encourage these people no matter what their lifestyle. I believe this is sloppy love, not biblical which puts our love to God first. It is cheap grace which is not true biblical grace.

Titus 2: 11-14 tells us about biblical grace: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

No matter what politicians do to change the laws of this land, we all have to one day answer to God's laws, whether we believe them or not.

2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The last enemy that America needs against them is Almighty God! But like Israel in the days of old, we have, and are rebelling against Him. We vex His Holy Spirit when we create laws that deliberately violate His moral laws. When homosexuals can enter into the same holy, ordained-by- God covenant of marriage as heterosexuals enter, we are thumbing our nose at God. We fail to connect the dots when calamites come upon us.

As a nation we desperately need God on our side. We constantly hear our present administration declaring that ISIS will never come and attack us here. How can they be so certain about that? Was not 9/11 a wakeup call for America? We are like an adulteress woman who cheats on her husband and defiantly states that nothing is wrong. All will be well. Really?

There is only one thing left for us to do if we are going to keep God on our side. And that is to repent. God loves us all, including homosexuals, but He has commanded all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

We conclude that tolerance itself is not a bad thing if used correctly. However, if it is used to sanction evil behavior, e.g. murder, rape, and immoral behavior that corrupts cultural values as well as bringing judgment from the God fo heaven and earth, then we must steadfastly resist abusing tolerance.

Because the homosexual community screams out their values, flaunts their behavior in the gay pride parades, and seeks to push their immoral agenda in our state education system, it does not mean that the rest of us who fear God should not be alarmed, disgusted, or even outraged by all this being rammed down our throats.

They are alarmed when we express vocally our indignation and they want to imprison us for "hate speech" when we speak out. The fact that 36 states of our nation have now fallen for their demands to legalize homosexual marriage in the name of tolerance is like poking a stick in the eyes of God who has shown us many undeserved mercies.

Where is the fear of God in the legislators of our states? Why have we hardened our hearts against His laws? Have we become so ungrateful for all His benevolence towards us? Do we not care if God should decide to stand up against us and become our enemy? The words in Isaiah 63:10 should cause us to walk in the fear of God: "But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them."

It seems to me that if we do not have the moral courage to stand against the violation of the sanctity of the holy marriage institution as given by God between one man and one woman, we are standing on dangerous ground.

All this is happening because we have, and are abusing tolerance.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

When we can no longer call extreme Islam terrorism for what it really is in case we offend moderate Islamics, we are in servitude. We are no longer free. When we can no longer speak out against terrorists who burn people alive in cages, behead ever increasing numbers of Christians, sell off young teenage girls into slavery, as well as blowup crowds of innocent people, tolerance has become our enemy.

When we can no longer denounce the slaughter of millions of innocent babies in their mother's wombs for the sake of tolerance it has become our enemy.

When, in the fear of God, we cannot denounce homosexuality for fear of offending someone who may be involved in this sin, then tolerance has become our enemy. The homosexual crowd think nothing of offending the consciences of Christians who believe that from the beginning God ordained the holy institution of marriage to be between a man and a woman. In this they are hypocrites.

To be continued.

Colin Campbell

All men and women are prone to sin in one way or another. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." However, certain sins bring about judgment from God on the land, as well as cities, and one of these sins is homosexuality. It would be wrong for God to judge anyone who was a homosexual if they were born that way. However, because God calls homosexuality an abomination and brought terrible judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah for this sin, it is obvious that God Himself does not agree with those who believe they are born this way.

It is obvious that homosexuality is not natural. It is contrary to nature and against God who created the way male and female are to function as He ordained in order to populate the earth (Genesis 1:27, 28 and Romans 1:28, 29).

It is absolutely wrong for these people to demand that the God-designed, holy ordinance of marriage be applied to something that is not designed by God, and which is an abomination to Him. Genesis 2:24 says: "Therefore shall a MAN leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his WIFE: and they shall be one flesh."

Furthermore, many homosexuals want to have a Christian minister or priest to solemnize their vows to each other. This is a slap in the face to God. Any government, whether federal or state, that in anyway seeks God's protection on their city, state, or nation had better take heed and warning from God's Holy Word that they are breaking the commandments and laws of the Ruler of all the earth. He will hold them accountable at His Great White Throne of Judgment (Romans 14;11, 12; James 3:1; 1 Peter 1:17; and Revelation 20:11-15).

Psalm 2:10-12 says: "Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."

To be continued.

Be encouraged. Colin Campbell

There are many who scoff at this truth recorded in the Bible for our admonishment and say it was just a fable and has no relevance for today's world. But it is not a fable. It did happen. I have been to a museum not far from where I live here in Tennessee. The owners were involved in an archeological dig and displayed some of the sulphur balls found at the location of these two cities. They informed me that the ignitable sulphur in these balls is not found anywhere else on the earth. It was indeed rained on those cities from Heaven just as the Bible states.

The words Sodom, Sodomite, and Sodomites are mentioned at least 39 times in the Old Testament and ten in the New Testament.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Already, many churches are not prepared to speak out against this attack on the holy institution of marriage between one man and one woman. I fear that the present generation of children growing up in American churches will soon accept that homosexual marriage as acceptable and normal.

It is ludicrous to think that it is right and proper to denounce murder as a sin that cannot be tolerated, even though murderers may feel discriminated against or believe they are receiving hate speech or intolerance for what they have done. Without a doubt, to those who read their Bibles, all homosexuality is condemned as a serious sin. It is regarded by God as an abomination that brings cities and nations into God's judgment if they do not repent.

This is not hate speech, but a genuine concern that the judgment of God will be averted from falling upon our nation.

America is weighed in the balances and found wanting.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

We read the description of God's blessing on Job's life in Job 29:2-10, 22, 23:

"Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;
When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness;
As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
The princes refrained talking and laid their hand on their mouth.
The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. . . .
Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.
After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them."

Not only did he lose all his material possessions, but now he is covered with boils from head to foot. To top it all off, here comes his so-called comforters, sent by Satan, to criticize and discomfort him. Worst of all, he seems to have lost all fellowship and contact with God.

For a period of time God demonstrated to Satan that here was one man that, no matter what calamity came upon him, he would not ever slander or speak evil of God. Job states in Job 13:15, 16: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: . . . He also shall be my salvation."

After Job received the news of all his material possessions being wiped out and his ten children killed, "Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job 1:20-22).

Men, it is very important for us fathers to train our children in this most important virtue.

America needs a revival of integrity in the White House, Senate, House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, CIA, IRS, and all state governments. We need integrity in our church pulpits. But most important of all, we must have integrity in the foundation of our society which is the family.

Integrity is a foundational virtue.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

The fears that Job feared that came upon him were purely the healthy fears that we should all have regarding the consequence of sin and the evil that can come upon us if we do not fear the consequences of not fearing God. Those who blamed Job for his fears misunderstood the purpose of his trial.

Satan believed that if God would remove the hedge of protection that was around Job and destroy all his family and all his belongings, plus destroy Job's flesh by a super serious attack of boils that Job would curse God with his lips.

To be continued.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

He continues to speak of persecutions, imprisonments, and judgments before kings and rulers. But Jesus tells them not to be anxious about what to say for "I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay, nor resist."

But there is more yet. They will be betrayed by parents, family, and friends. Some will even be put to death. They will be hated for the name of Jesus. Yet in the midst of all this, Jesus said they were not to panic, not to have nervous breakdowns, and not to be angry. This would only cause them to act in a non-Christian manner, be revengeful, and take matters into their own hands.

Although this may not happen in the near future here in USA, if we go ourselves, or send forth our sons and daughters to foreign mission fields to help fulfill the Great Commission, all of the above could happen.

James 1:2- 4 (NKJV): "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

Men, we must never underestimate the value of patience for it is far more important that we have ever thought. We must with all care and diligence teach our families the great importance of this truth because their lives in Christ depend upon it.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

In Luke 12:42-48 Jesus tells a parable of a steward who became impatient for his master to return. Jesus said in verse 45, 46 (NLT): "But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful." Again, what a terrible price to pay for impatience.

Men, and fathers, I think that many do not really believe in the imminence of Christ's return. We had better take heed to the warnings.

We must teach our children to be patient in all things so they will be counted worthy to reign with Christ in His kingdom, both now, while we wait for His return, and when He does return. We must teach them what it means to keep "the word of his patience."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

In these times of great challenges, none of us want to be faint and weak. In times of economic stress, war, and famine, even strong young men can eventually fall and fail, but they that learn to wait upon God, young or old, will renew their strength. We will have strength to rise up, to walk, to run, and not to be faint.

Men, we must teach our children to memorize and claim this wonderful Scripture. We must explain to them what it means to daily wait upon God. If we do not encourage our children in this truth we are setting them up to be weak and fail.

This Scripture has promise for both the natural and the spiritual. Just as we want our young people to be strongly athletic and vibrant in the natural, so we should desire that they will be strongly athletic and vibrant in the spirit. Our nation desperately needs young men and women who are morally strong, who have godly character, and who will be able to fight back the forces of darkness. This strength is not limited to the young, but is available to all.

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell

Jesus Himself was tested on the subject of patience during His forty day trial in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). He was tempted by Satan at a time of hunger to command stones to be made into bread. But Jesus knew that He was not meant, in any way, to heed Satan's advice as Adam and Eve had done in the garden (Genesis 3:1-7). He told Satan that bread made from God's Word was the true Living Bread.

Fathers, we must teach our children not to eat the bread suggested by the devil. The devil's bread is made from dead stones. It is heavy, lifeless, and it kills. Too many people are feasting on the bread of stones--including weak, immature Christians.

The bread from Heaven is worth patiently waiting on God for. It does not come in the clamor, rush, and bombardment of our modern media and high-pressured secular education and entertainment. Rather, the Living Bread we partake of comes in the early morning dew to those who patiently wait for the Living Bread.

Hebrews 6:12: "Be not slothful, but followers of them who through FAITH AND PATIENCE inherit the promises."

Be encouraged.

Colin Campbell