Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

I have a corner by our dining room table that now holds six prayer boxes:
Our World Changing Prayer Box
Our Family Prayer Box
Our Israel Prayer Box
Our Marriage and Family Restoration Prayer Box
Our Capitals and Cities Prayer Box
Our Thank You Prayer Box

Our new ones are OUR ISRAEL PRAYER BOX which I have written cards with needs for Israel of which there are so many. We can’t really make this an optional box because we are commanded in God’s Word to pray for Israel and His people.

Psalm 122:6, 7: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.”

Isaiah 62:6, 7: “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, who shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give him to rest till he establishes and till he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.”

It’s a good idea to bring God’s promises to Him as you pray for Israel. To be inspired by God’s promises go to: http://aboverubies.org/EverlastingPossession

Our other new one is OUR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY RESTORATION PRAY BOX. Isn’t it sad that so many families are fragmented? So many marriages are falling apart or even separated and wanting divorce. I write the names of these families and couples in our box. Marriage restoration can only happen by the power of the Holy Spirit. Nearly every day I claim the promise in Zechariah 4:6: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” But as we pray we can see God do mighty miracles.

We alternate our boxes. We usually always use our Family Prayer Box with the names of all our family and extended family each morning and evening, along with one of the other boxes.

In our corner, we also have our hymnbooks. We sing worship songs at church, but like to use the hymns for our Family Devotions. Once again, we have four sets of hymnbooks to choose from--a set of hymnbooks with the words and music, a set of little hymnbooks with just the words, and two sets of HYMNS WE LOVE TO SING, Volume 1 and Volume 2 that I have put together of our favorite hymns. We often use these ones when we have lots of children because they are pretty rough on the hymnbooks!

I would love to hear what prayer boxes you use in your home.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Here is a poem I wrote about it:

A HOUSE OR A HOME?
There’s a house that’s always empty while the family gads about,
Chasing empty dreams and pleasures--always feeling they’re burned out,
Spending all their strength on worthless things that soon will pass away,
Not living for eternity, but only for today.

There’s a house without a Bible being read from faithfully,
Hungry souls and empty hearts who are starving spiritually,
There’s a home without a mother to cherish and to train,
Neglecting her first calling; all other works are vain.

This house could be a home if she would seek to live God’s plan,
But she thinks she’ll find fulfillment in the love and praise of man.
There’s a house with a searching mother on how to make a home,
She desires to build God’s Kingdom, but she cannot do it alone.

She asks for the Lord’s forgiveness for wasting many years,
Fully knowing that His calling will cost sacrifice and tears.
Now there’s a home with a Bible that is read from faithfully,
A home that is built on prayer and a life lived purposely.

There’s a home that accepts God’s children as a blessing from His hand,
A home that’s filled with treasures--children loved and planned,
There’s a home that has a table for the family to find rest,
Hearts at home are happiest, hearts at home so very blessed.

There’s a home that has an altar where petitions are daily made,
A home where the love of Christ is beautifully displayed.
A house or delightful home--which one will you pursue?
The choice which God has given is fully up to you.

KRISTIN EASON
El Dorado Springs, MO 64744

Dustin and Kristin's blessings are Emma (15), Rylan (12), Ellie (7), Nathan (3), and Elizabeth (4 months).

Painting by Firmin Baes

But although we need to be strong, we must not lose our softness. It is one of the beautiful characteristics of being female. I love the way the Hebrew uses organs of the body to express emotions and affection. There are four different Hebrew words for “womb “ in the Bible. Let me share the meaning of just two of them.

“Racham” comes from the root word “to fondle.” It means “to cherish a babe in the womb, to love deeply, to be compassionate, to show tender mercy and pity.” This word is used interchangeably in the Bible for the womb of a woman and also to describe God’s compassion and mercy.

“Meah” comes from a root word meaning “to be soft.” It refers to the internal organs including
the reproductive organs--the bowels, womb, and uterus. It speaks of man’s emotions and also
of God’s emotions.

The womb is more than a literal place to conceive and nurture a babe. It is the seat of our compassion and tenderness. As we embrace our womb and childbearing, we return again to a soft spirit and tender heart. And ultimately we reveal the wombness of God--His compassion and tenderness.

God has chosen His female creation to reveal His mercy and tenderness to the world--firstly to our children and then to a hurting world. No wonder 1 Timothy 2:15 says that we will be preserved through embracing childbearing. We are saved from becoming tough and hard. Motherhood keeps us soft, tender, and beautiful in our femaleness.

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting by Steve Hanks

Currently we are blessed to live in the country. I love it. We have children and grandchildren all around us. What bliss! But I didn’t raise my own children in this environment. We lived in the city. On the Gold Coast of Australia our home looked out on Jupiter’s Casino! And this is where we raised our teenagers!

Yes, I was cast upon God. I walked the beach every morning crying out to God to keep my children in this sinful environment. And God was faithful. He is always faithful. You can trust Him as you walk in obedience and holiness before Him.

I read this beautiful promise this morning: “May people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field” (Psalm 72:16 ESV). It reminded me of the wonderful promise in Deuteronomy 28:3 (the blessing chapter) where it says: “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.”

Claim the promises.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

He goes on to say that after we have taught our children all that is necessary to carry on the duties of everyday life and business affairs, we should then decide that “they shall learn nothing that cannot really be pressed into the service of God, and used for the salvation of souls.”

Psalm 1:1, 2: “ Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the way of sinners, not sits in the seat of the scornful, But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

Does this picture the education of your children?

Blessings, Nancy Campbell

Painting: “The Reading Lesson” by Léon Augustin Lhermitte

Colin’s great grandmother lived in their home when he was a little toddler. He doesn’t remember her, but his mother shares how she was a great intercessor and lived a life of prayer in her older years. She not only prayed for the people around her, but specifically prayed for the coming generations. The family live in the blessing of these prayers and we are now beginning a seventh generation from this godly woman who prayed for her descendants.

This has also inspired Colin and me to pray for the coming generations and we do this when we pray for our children and grandchildren each day.

We have such a merciful God. He says that He visits the iniquity of the children up to the third and fourth generation, but then stops! That is His mercy. But He keeps covenant with those who keep His commandments for a thousand generations! Hallelujah! Read these Scriptures: Exodus 20:5, 6; 34:6, 7; Deuteronomy 7:9, 10; 1 Chronicles 16:1`5; and Psalm 105:8.

What a responsibility we have as parents to keep God’s commandments and walk in His ways. We pave the way for God’s blessings to a thousand generations.

Proverbs 20:7: “The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.”

Psalm 25:12, 13: “What man is he that feareth the LORD? . . . his seed shall inherit the earth.”

Psalm 112:1, 2: “Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.”

May you and your family be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Matthew 5:6 says: “Blessed are they which do HUNGER AND THIRST after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”

Matthew 6:33 says: “Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God and his righteousness.”

I am challenged by Isaiah 51:1: “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD.” The Hebrew word “follow” is “radaph" and means “to run after, chase, hunt, pursue.” It is not a complacent word. It’s an intensely active word. It’s not moderate action, but that which takes all our strength, sweat, and exertion.

We are to follow after righteousness ardently, avidly, devoutly, diligently, eagerly, earnestly, exceedingly, fervently, intensely, passionately, perseveringly, persistently, powerfully, relentlessly, steadfastly, strenuously, strongly, unfalteringly, untiringly, vehemently, vigilantly, vigorously, wholeheartedly, willingly, and zealously! It’s the same word used of soldiers chasing down their enemy until they are destroyed, even when they are tired. “Faint, yet pursuing” (Judges 8:4).

What is the standard for righteousness in our homes? Does our desire for righteousness influence our children? Does it make them want to pursue righteousness? They will not be turned on if all they see is religion and legalism. But when they see our hearts hot and passionate for God because we are in love with Christ who is our Righteousness, they will want to live in the joy of His kingdom too.

Yes, righteousness begets joy. Hebrews 1:9 tells us that because Jesus “loved righteousness, and hated iniquity, therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

You cannot separate salvation and righteousness. Christ came to save us from sin and give us His righteousness. Seek to be a family who all PASSIONATELY FOLLOW after righteousness (Hebrews 12:14).

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

Actually it is more than that. Would you like to know the full meaning of this word? Sorry, there are too many descriptions from the Greek Lexicon so I’ll just add a few more for you: “kalos” also means “excellent in its nature and characteristics, magnificent, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable, valuable, virtuous, worthy, praiseworthy, honorable, beautiful to look at, and beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life.”

God describes the lifestyle of being a submissive and loving wife, mothering (embracing and loving children), and keeping the home as beautiful and admirable. They are not insignificant or to be despised. This lifestyle is so valuable to God and to society that God actually says that when we reject it we “blaspheme the Word of God.” Please don’t get mad at me! I didn’t say those words, the Bible says them!

I like the J. B. Phillip’s translation of these words. Instead of saying them in the negative, he turns them around to the positive and says that when young women embrace this beautiful lifestyle it is “a good advertisement for the Christian faith.”

It’s the same word that is used in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good (kalos) works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

Embrace your beautiful lifestyle today, dear wives and mothers. It is beautiful to God. It is precious to our husbands. It is valuable for our children. And it is magnificent for the blessing of society.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Painting by Mary Cassatt

I am sure this is your longing and prayer too.

Bless you today, Nancy Campbell

Picture: Some of our grandsons (and a friend) praying together before they go out to bring Jesus to the world around them.

It is impossible for us to work these beautiful attributes up in our own flesh. They come from God. They are the life of Christ. But the amazing truth is that He dwells within us by His Spirit. Therefore, these attributes also belong to us. We are often (I am anyway) of being guilty of not living in the fullness of the redemption Jesus Christ wrought for us upon the cross. He not only died to save us from our sins, but rose again to dwell within us and fill us with His life. He wants to live His life through us. He wants to manifest these beautiful attributes through us.

God’s grace gives us eternal salvation, but God’s grace also enables us live in the power of God right here on earth. Titus 2:11,12 tells us that God’s grace enables us to live “soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.” Not the next world, but this present world! Right in your home. Right in your kitchen when children are screaming, the baby needs you, and everything needs to be done at once and you don’t know where to turn! God’s grace is available for you right now. His godly life, filled with patience, longsuffering, forgiveness, and gentleness is within you now.

Embrace the truth. Thank God for His life within you. Accept it by faith and walk in it. Don’t wallow in your self-pity, but live in the fullness of the life of Christ who dwells within you. This is your victory. This is your glory--CHRIST IN YOU!

May God save us from denying the power of the cross of Jesus Christ and living defeated lives when He wants to live His victorious life in us--in the midst of whatever we face right now!

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

THE DAILY LIGHT
I mentioned this devotional book in my post above. We particularly love it because it only has God’s Word. The more of God’s Word we can get into our children the better! One of the great advantages of this devotional is that it provides prepared Scriptures on a certain theme for EVERY MORNING AND EVERY EVENING OF THE YEAR! You don’t have to wonder where to read in the Bible. All you do is turn to the date and it’s all there for you! A marvelous blessing for husbands who don’t feel confident about leading devotions--it’s all prepared for them!

To purchase this book, go to: http://aboverubiesbookstore.mybigcommerce.com/daily-light-on-the-daily-path/

To find out ideas about how we use this book in our home, go to: http://bit.ly/HowWeUseDailyLight

Rev. Edward Taylor Sullivan spoke these words in a sermon: “I walked down the furrow in the field,” said a humble mother who lived on a New Hampshire farm; “I walked down the furrow with the Governor of New Hampshire in my arms, and the Governor of Massachusetts clinging to my skirts.” She said that afterwards, long afterwards, in her old age. For she knew not then, and no one knew, that her two baby boys would be governors of two New England states.”

I love the words of this song, written by a friend of mine:
“Mothers of children, can you not see
The world of tomorrow asleep on your knee?”

You cannot even dream what God has ahead for your children as you are faithful to nurture and train them in God’s ways and His Word of truth. Psalm 22:30, 31 (NLT) says: “Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.”

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

~ Nancy

Picture: Tom Browning - A Baby's First Book