Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Did you know that when you conceive, God has visited you? What could be more awesome than a visitation of God?

Just think about it. It’s true, dear mothers. Genesis 21:1-2 says: “The Lord visited Sarah . . . for Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son.”

Again, it says in I Samuel 2:21: “And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters.”

Do we really understand the awesomeness of conception?

Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell
Painting by Robert Coombs

And you run your hand up their body and tickle them under the arm or under their chin.

~ Nancy

As you embrace this beautiful picture of a woman, you not only nurture your family, but you build a nation!

Motherhood is not weakness, it is power.

Be encouraged today, Nancy Campbell
Painting by Sandra Kuck.

“Wonder” is an emotion God has given to us, firstly, in relation to Him. He is called “Wonderful” (Isaiah 9:6). The word is “pele” and literally means, “a wonder, a marvel.” God cannot be fathomed. He is mysterious (Job 11:7-10). Judges 13:18 says His name is “secret.” God should be our greatest awe as we continually receive new glimpses and understanding of Him and His amazing creation.

Can we awake each morning, filled with wonder and expectation of what God will do and show us? Or have the stresses and burdens of life dimmed this wonder? Perhaps excessive social media and iphones etc., have blurred our brains from seeing the wonder and expectation in life. A book I am reading currently talks about a delightful clockmaker who “had never grown up and things still amazed him.”

May you and I be those who keep being amazed! Ask God to renew in you the delight of wonder. Together, with your children, daily look to understand more of God. Look for wonders and miracles in your everyday lives, not only in the big things of life, but also the tiny little things.

As you sit together at the table at supper time, ask your children to tell you about some “wonders” they noticed today.

Live in the expectation of wonder today.

Blessings from Nancy

When you are home you cook from scratch, using wholesome, non-packaged foods. You can grow a garden and eat fresh, non-sprayed vegetables. You save loads of dollars on prepared foods and eat healthier.

You save on gas and clothes.

But best of all, you are with your precious children. You are not handing them over to someone you don’t even know! You are investing in their lives. You are teaching them in the ways of God. You are “little by little, and precept by precept” training them to grow up in the character of God.

You still think you can’t do it? No, you can’t in your own strength. But when you take a step of faith and simply obey God’s ultimate plan for you, you will find He is with you all the way. You’ll be amazed at the miracles that take place! You’ll be amazed at how you survive!

Love to you from Nancy Campbell

You are still wondering how God can provide for you. Check out this link:
http://tinyurl.com/CanGodProvideforBaby

Painting by Katie Berggren

If you listen to my podcast, FROM OUR HOME TO YOURS W/ NANCY CAMPBELL, you will have heard, Serene my daughter, read excerpts from this book on the podcast.

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And instead of getting bitter, we open our hearts to instruction. This is the way we mature. This is the way we grow in our walk with the Lord. If we cannot receive reproof, we may stay in the same habit, the same sin, or the same rut for years!

The other day I read this powerful Scripture in Psalm 141:5: “Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil.”

I looked up the Passion translation and was challenged when I read: “When one of your faithful ones rebukes me, I will accept it like an honor I cannot refuse. It will be healing medicine that I swallow without an offended heart.” What wonderful words to take to our hearts.

Can we receive instruction and reproof to heal us like medicine? And without being offended?

This Scripture calls reproof a healing medicine. Proverbs 15:31 calls it “the reproof of life.” It brings life to our souls.

This is how we need to live our personal lives and then teach this habit to our children. We must teach our children HOW to receive instruction and rebuke. It is natural to resist. We must show them God’s way.

I think this would be a good Scripture to pin up in your kitchen for the whole family, don’t you?

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

My husband and I had to come to this great country legally. We had to spend time, money, and effort to become a US citizen. It’s not easy, but it is a prized possession. Not to be taken lightly.

I was most disappointed to see that the following senators did not stand with securing our border. I have already contacted my Tennessean Senator. I encourage you all to do the same. Just google for the phone number of the Senator in your sate and call to express your concern.

REPUBLICAN SENATORS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BORDER WALL
Lamar Alexander of Tennessee (615) 736-5129
Roy Blunt of Missouri
Susan Collins of Maine
Mike Lee of Utah
Lisa Murkowski of Alaska
Rob Portman of Ohio
Mitt Romney of Utah
Marco Rubio of Florida
Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania
Rand Paul of Kentucky
Roger Wicker of Mississippi
Jerry Moran of Kansas

~ Nancy

We were talking about how God knows each child even before He forms them in the womb. He knows them from eternity. He is Omniscient and has each child in His heart from before the foundation of the world.

I often think of how Hebrews 7:9, 10 tells us how Levi paid tithes to Melchisedec while he “was yet in the loins” of Abraham who was his great-grandfather! He wouldn’t have even been a twinkle in Abraham’s eyes, and yet God knew him before he was conceived. The Bible states that he literally paid tithes when Abraham paid tithes! Wow, God’s understanding is far beyond ours, isn’t it?

Anyway, as we were talking, Serene talked about her little one-year-old, Solly, sitting on her knee, and said, “Oh my goodness, if I didn't have her! It's just too incredible and too amazing. And look at her personality! God had a vision of her. Imagine if I had said, ‘No, God, I don't want her, I don't care for Your desire to have her in eternity with You.”

What a powerful revelation. This is something to think about. When we say No to a child that God has planned before the foundation of the world to spend eternity with Him, we deprive that child of life. Not only of life in this world, but of the opportunity to enjoy the glories of the eternal world forever. Glories that are beyond the scope of our human minds to comprehend! How grieving to deprive someone of this glory.

Our minds are so puny. I constantly need to ask God to open my mind to think His thoughts. To understand His ways. May God save us from putting Him in a box, bringing Him down to the level of our puny thinking, of making ourselves our own god, instead of allowing Him to be God!

Be blessed today, Nancy Campbell

Photo: Serene with Solly as a newborn.

Scriptures about how God knew us before we were born:
Judges 13:5; 16:17; Psalm 139:16; Isaiah 49:1, 5; Jeremiah 1:5; Luke 1:15, 16, 41; and Galatians 1:15, 16.

All of a sudden, Erin realized that there’s only one letter difference. Take out the L from “world” and you’ve got Word! We are either going to live our lives according to the mindset of the world, or the mindset of the Word of God. Which will it be?

We need to get the L of leftist ideologies out of our lives which infiltrate our society. We choose whether we will have a biblical worldview or a liberal worldview.

We’ll never be old-fashioned when we choose the “old paths” because they lead us to rest and blessing. Jeremiah 6:16 says: “Thus saith the LORD (not Nancy Campbell or anyone else, but GOD), Stand ye in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the GOOD way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”

God’s living Word is the secret to prospering. Joshua 1:8 says: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way PROSPEROUS, and then thou shalt have GOOD SUCCESS.”

Live by the Word, not the spirit of this world!

1 John 2:15-17 says: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

And James 4:4 is challenging too, isn’t it? “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

Be a Word family, not a worldly family.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Let’s keep a good attitude. Cast aside all negativity, anger, hurt, bitterness, unforgiveness and let’s fill our lies with the beauty of forgiveness, love, joy, and unselfishness.

2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us how that when we behold the face of Jesus, we are changed into His likeness. This also happens with us and our children. Our children behold our face all day long. What do they see? An expression of contentment and joy? Or frustration and anger? A smile or a frown?

Dear mother, your children will change into the same image they see on your face. Do you want happy, smiling children? Let them see this expression on your face.

I love the words of the hymn:

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All his wonderful passion and purity,
O thou Spirit divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

May the expression on our faces make us look beautiful to our husbands and children.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Let’s forget about what we don’t have and give what we do have—the power of God dwelling in us to bless those around us. Give love and joyful service to your husband. Give to your children—hugs, kisses, encouraging words, godly teaching, and a home atmosphere that’s filled with God’s love, joy, and peace.

It’s good to remember that we don’t always have to give our children monetary things. It’s not things that they’ll remember, but the love and happiness in our homes.

Don’t allow your children to get into the habit of expecting to get something every time you go to the shops. Your children won’t be deprived if you can’t take them to all the entertainment that requires money! And there are loads of wonderful adventures and outdoor things you can take your children to that don’t require finance. And you can make it far more exciting and creative.

Of course, if you have the money, you can bless them in this way too. But it’s not necessary. Pour out your life for your family and for those who are needy around you. If you don’t have money to bless others, you can certainly do it in so many other ways.

Be a giver of your life, your smiles, your joy, your prayers, your time, and your practical love.

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

When we have a desire to bring forth children, we reveal the heart of our God. To desire to be a father and a mother is God-like. God gives to every man unique and differing gifts. However, no matter what gifts or career a man has, his greatest calling is fatherhood. He is made in the image of God who is a Father. Everything else in life serves this highest purpose.

It is the same for us as women. Each one of us have different gifts and abilities which we use for the blessing of others in this life. But we are essentially mothers. Or I should say quintessentially, for we were created for this purpose. When we embrace mothering and our nurturing anointing, we reveal God’s heart. The core of His heart.

Embrace your beautiful calling, mother. You are in God’s perfect will. You are revealing His likeness to the world.

To reject mothering is to reject the likeness of God. (And precious mothers who are unable to have children of your own, please don’t despair. You are also great mothers as you release your nurturing anointing to those God brings into your life).

We see such a hatred today to God’s ultimate plan for families. It comes from the pit of hell. The rising star of the Democratic Party, Ocasio-Cortez, now states that it may not be ethical to have children, given the difficulties that climate change will likely cause in the years to come. Her thinking is the opposite of God’s ways.

We are either on God’s side or the devil’s side. There is no in-between.

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

J. Omado Phorography

I wrote this poem after three girls in a row! We have our second little boy now.

I want to raise a man! Here is a picture of our little guy, Ryle.”
Ashley.lynn.obrien-at-gmail.com

Oh Lioness, who cuddles her child close,
How queenly you are with strength and beauty untouchable,
You fawn at the tiny cub at your breast,
You stare at the details of eyes, hair, and nose,
You are raising a king,
Royalty in his blood undeniable!

A mother love, foundational,
Praises erupt from your parting lips
As you bend to kiss the wisps of his hair,
God designed this child, every last detail
Down to the talents that lie dormant inside
And used you, oh Queen, as a vessel to carry him
And a vessel still as you nourish him.

You will teach him, discipline him,
Encourage him, guide him, equip him
As he grows from baby to boy to man.
Oh, how queenly you are as your raise a gentleman
To serve our sovereign God,
To love one woman until death,
To father with humble adoration,
To provide with honesty and integrity.

Oh mother, hold your child close,
Stare into his eyes and sense his spirit,
When he cries, go to him and whisper I-love-yous,
When he is scared, remind him he is brave,
When he is dejected, remind him of eternal joy,
When he is suffering, remind him he is not alone,
When the questions of life aren’t unanswered, remind him God works in mysteries,
When life gives hardships, remind him of God’s strength.

Look at your baby, you are raising a king,
It’s costly to fail, oh mother.
Remind yourself daily of your call to motherhood
And to this child specifically,
Of your duty to God and the men of the next generation.

They will search for a leader—
A good man with morals,
With wisdom,
With the ability to see right from wrong,
With masculine strength and a bold spirit,
A humbled heart who gives honor where honor is due,
Who is crowned with blessings from Above,
Who is a voice to the voiceless,
Who stands when others cower,
Raise this man.

Oh mother, you are raising a king.

Ashley O’Brien * Ashley.lynn.obrien-at-gmail.com
Flowery Branch, Georgia, USA