Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

2. Some things you need to think about. All children need to be up and dressed (and if old enough), beds made by breakfast time. This enables you to be ready to have Family Devotions together after breakfast. It will never happen if you don’t organize it to happen!

Appoint duties for each member of the family to clean up the kitchen and get laundry started for the day. All children need to be involved from the youngest to the oldest. Make sure everything is cleaned up before you start homeschooling. This is just to get you started. You can think about the rest of your day. But make sure you also think about how you will prepare your evening meal and what time you will get into the kitchen to get it going.

3. Share the plan with your husband and ask him for any changes or better ideas. Pray over it together.

4. Gather the family together at a suitable time. Share with the family that you can't keep going the way you are. A family must run smoothly and so you have got a great plan to make it happen and you are all going to be involved. Then share the plan with the family and tell them their appointed tasks. You can also print it and pin it up where all can see it.

5. Be excited about it and let the children catch the vision. When you start your tasks in the morning, aim for a time to have them finished. No dawdling allowed! Teach your children to work hard and fast. You are training them for the future! You are training them to be successful employees, or better still, employers! You are training them how to run their home when they get married. They must know how to work hard, fast, and joyfully!

If tasks are done by a certain time, put a star on the fridge. At the end of the week, if there are a certain number of stars, plan a celebration. Go out for ice-cream. Have a special meal, or purchase a little gift for each of the children who played their part. Incentive is great. There is nothing wrong with giving incentives.

Blessings to you today,

Nancy Campbell

We cannot run our homeland unless it is based on obedience. Titus 2:5 commands us wives to be obedient to our husband. We set the example for our children who are to be obedient to us. When obedience is established in the home, the home runs smoothly.

When a wife resists her husband, there is no peace. When children are not trained to obey, there is chaos! No mother can enjoy mothering disobedient children. No wonder many mothers don't like mothering. They have children who are out of control.

Establish obedience in your home and the blessing of God will come down.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Meadow Hall, a young mother, continues to share her thoughts. (I believe every mother should especially read points 5 and 6. ~ Nancy).

Also don’t miss today’s podcast with Meadow (and Autumn her sister). Meadow and I continue to talk about modesty and femininity. What about bikinis and leggings? Should they be part of our wardrobe? Can Christians wear jewelry? How do we embrace femininity in a genderless society? Should we pursue an egalitarian or complementarian marriage?

GLEANINGS FROM A NEW MOTHER, Part 2

4. POSTPARTUM CAN ALSO BE CULTURALLY AND SPIRITUALLY RELATED

The “overwhelming” feelings of postpartum or “postpartum depression” are not only about hormones. They can also be culturally and spiritually related.

I didn’t get postpartum depression, but there were times when I would cry and feel overwhelmed. Part of that is due to hormones, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation, but it can go deeper than that.

I believe that the enemy of our souls will try to attack new parents and cause them feelings of helplessness and stress, especially during postpartum, the time when they are vulnerable. God loves children, but Satan hates children. He seeks to make having a baby seem like a burden instead of a blessing. He tries to overwhelm you so that you will dread having another baby or you won’t want to again for a long time. He tries to steal your joy and may cause you to believe your life is “restricted” or you “have no life now”.

Our culture is also to blame why women can be in a state of “shock” when they become mothers. Back in that day, preparing young women for maternal duties was normal, and so many women were able to transition smoothly into motherhood. But with the rise of feminism, our society functions as if women don’t grow up to become mothers.

In her article “When I became a Mother, Feminism let Me Down” feminist Samantha Johnson wrote: “We are so driven by the focus that women can do the same and be the same as men, that we completely fail to provide them with education or understanding of what may be ahead of them as future homemakers and those who raise children. How can we ensure equality for all women when we place so little value on the role of the mother?” I’m not a feminist myself, but I agree with her on the point that our society has failed mothers.

I am thankful that I come from a family that embraces having children and did not cause me to believe that I need “to become successful” before I become a mother or make me feel like my life amounts to nothing now. I have been blessed to have a wonderful support system in my postpartum season. My family have shown me that motherhood is a high calling and more important than any other career.

Sadly, many other new mothers don’t have older women to truly encourage them or show them the way anymore. It’s in the season of postpartum, when women are the most exhausted and spiritually and hormonally vulnerable, that we need others to encourage us in our new role as mothers, instead of feeling even more discouraged in a society that frowns upon motherhood and homemakers.

5. PARENTING GIVES YOU A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S HEART

Becoming parents gives you a deeper understanding of the Father-heart of God. To have so many hopes and dreams for my child; to feel such a strong protective spirit over him; to feel like I would go through labor all over again for him; that I would bear any of his pain for him if I could; that I would give my life for him, and devote my life to love and raise him! It’s amazing how it can feel like it would be impossible to love your baby any more than you do now. It’s even more amazing when I realize that the powerful love I have for my baby is only a fraction of the love God has for him and me. It’s truly mind blowing.

It can be harder to fully appreciate and understand how God loves us and has beautiful hopes for us as our Father, until we become parents ourselves. It also gives us a deeper appreciation for all the years our parents sowed into us and the love they felt.

Being a parent also helps you to become more like Jesus. It forces you to give up selfishness you may not have even been aware that you had before. Now life is not just about looking out for yourself. You must lay down your life to serve another. It is a sad thing that many people avoid parenthood because they don’t want to give up their “freedom.” But where is the purpose in life if we do not serve Jesus and others, and only ourselves? When we willingly lay down our lives in service, that is when we discover true contentment and joy.

6. YOUR HUSBAND DOESN’T COME SECOND

Having a baby doesn’t mean my husband “comes second” now. It’s not true that you have to say goodbye to romance when you become parents. Loving my husband is still just as important now as it was before I became a Mother. My baby may be the most helpless and requires most of my time, but he is not the “most important.” I still must show my husband that I make him a priority, and that after God, he is the most important relationship in my life . . . and then comes my child.

You can be more tired as parents, and your alone time together may only happen when the baby is asleep. But that just means pursuing each other and initiating romance is more intentional now. I don’t have the right to “deny” my husband love just because I’m feeling tired. And yet, there are women who treat their husbands this way when they become exhausted.

Just imagine if we deny our babies love and make them feel neglected when they need us because we’re feeling tired! We wouldn’t be very good mothers if we treated them that way! So why is it considered acceptable to deny and neglect our husbands? Not only is hurtful; it’s also unbiblical.

1 Corinthians 7:5 (GNT) says: “Do not deny yourselves to each other, unless you first agree to do so for a while in order to spend your time in prayer; but then resume normal marital relations. In this way you will be kept from giving in to Satan's temptation because of your lack of self-control.”

I am a mother now, but I was firstly, and still am a wife. I never tell my husband: “I’m too tired,” “I’m not in the mood,” or “Not tonight.” We still have quality time together and we’ve even managed to go on a couple of dates.

Becoming parents together can either weaken or strengthen our marriage. It can weaken it if we forget where our priorities are and use being “busy parents” as an excuse to neglect each other. Or, it can strengthen our marriage because now we are on a like-minded-mission as “one” to raise and love this child together. We make time for each other and still sow into our marriage which will also create security for our child.

Giving love to my baby does not mean I have to give less love to my husband. it just means there’s more love to go around! I’m sure this is also how it will be when our family keeps on growing! I don’t have to give less love to my child because we will have more. The love will multiply!

MEADOW HALL
Facebook: Meadow Hall
Instagram: _m_e_a_d_o_w_
Check out Podcast, No. 12, posted today at http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com Picture: Meadow and Kendall with baby Warren.

Anita Johnson is the Canadian Coordinator of Above Rubies. Here are some of her children helping with the Canadian packaging of Above Rubies.

I have been publishing Above Rubies for over 40 years now, and it has always been accomplished in the home. It's all about the home and so that's where it happens.

~ Nancy

I shared last week’s podcast, FACING MODESTY HEAD ON, with my granddaughter, Meadow Hall. I hope you get time to listen. You will hear from Meadow again when No. 12 podcast goes out on Tuesday morning, 21st, entitled MODESTY AND FEMININITY IN THE 21ST CENTURY. Look for it.

In the meantime, I know you’ll love to read more from Meadow. Recently she wrote about her feelings as a new mother. I’ll send it out in two parts, one for today and one for tomorrow.

GLEANINGS FROM A NEW MOTHER, Part 1
In honor of my little man, Warren Charles turning six months, here are six things I've learned since becoming a Mom!

1. CHANGE OUR PERSPECTIVE OF CHILDBIRTH

Every woman loves to share her birth story (myself included). But we need to be aware of how we present childbirth when we share our experiences, especially around young girls or pregnant women who have not yet experienced it themselves. We can be honest about the trial of giving birth, but we should always offer encouragement instead of fear.

If you talk about your birth story as a “horror story” instead of something you have learned and grown from, all that does is cause dread in younger women. If you only have a traumatic story to tell, be careful how you share it, or don't share it, if it is only going to promote fear.

There are also people who would call a pregnant woman “crazy” if she plans to go natural (epidural-free) and that is not a healthy view to God’s natural design of birth. We should encourage and remind young women that God designed their bodies to do this! We need to convince them that though it is hard, childbirth can be a beautiful experience, and it’s so important to not be fearful, whether they have an epidural, a C-section, go natural, or they have a home birth! Encourage them to receive their strength from God!

When I tell future mothers or pregnant mothers my birth story, I will be honest about the challenge, but I want to leave them feeling inspired and encouraged, not fearful! I feel this is my responsibility.

2. THROW MORE BIRTH ENCOURAGEMENT PARTIES

I believe we should throw more birth encouragement parties for first-time mothers! My Mom threw me a “birth encouragement party” and invited experienced mothers to come and encourage me about childbirth. They gave me their wisdom and advice, and their gifts were freezer meals for my postpartum season. I was so encouraged, and I wrote down a lot of notes afterwards!

Think of how much more inspired new mothers would be if they had this kind of support system! This is a great way to bless and encourage a first-time pregnant mother. Just make sure the women you invite use their testimonies to encourage, not promote fear.

3. FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT DURING POSTPARTUM

I believe it is so important to have a family and a community to support you during postpartum.
I am the type of person who wants to have the house looking perfect, the food already made, and candles burning when we have company over. There is no way that’s happening during the first couple of weeks postpartum. It was humbling to allow people to come over when my house was a mess, I’m a mess, and then allow them to clean my house and serve me! But it was so needed!

Postpartum is a special, but sometimes, overwhelming season. I was so thankful when my family came over to bring me food, give me advice on how to nurse/take care of Warren, and clean the house for me so I could take a much-needed nap. I remember thinking that other new mothers would probably do so much better in their postpartum season if they had other people to support them this way. We also had friends from our church bring us a meal, and that was so sweet!

If you know a family nearby who just had a baby, bring them a meal, or see if you can run an errand for them, or help in some way! If you are the couple who just had the baby, be open to letting people serve you and love you the way Jesus would! It is a blessing for them too!

MEADOW HALL
Facebook: Meadow Hall
Instagram: _m_e_a_d_o_w_

P.S. Part 2 to come tomorrow.
Check out Podcast, No. 11 at http://ARPoddy.buzzsprout.com And don’t miss No. 12 tomorrow!

To contact Heather:
Ph: 360 271 9668
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Heather thanks you for your love and patience. She would love to do more t-shirts in the future, but has learned what to do and what not to do next time to make it more streamline!

Love,

Nancy

When I was pregnant with my sixth we outgrew our eight-passenger van. I did not worry or fret. I asked God to provide us with a 15 passenger. I also asked God for no carpet in my van! God heard my prayer. My friend knew I was on the lookout for a van and she told me about a church selling a 15 passenger with new tires! Guess what? The van had no carpet! I can now sweep out my van and it’s so much easier than to vacuum.

My youngest baby is four months old. I have never yet had to buy her diapers! My friend who had a premature baby was showered with so many diapers she gave me some. Then more friends started giving me extra! To top it off, my friends threw me a welcome baby shower and I got more diapers and wipes!

I rarely buy clothes for my seven children! People pass on clothes all the time and I happily accept hand me downs. My children have clothes, they are fed, and they are blessed spiritually. What more could I ask for? God is so gracious and has met our family’s every need.

If you are struggling about the financial aspect of adding another child to your family I would encourage you to go to the Lord in prayer. He will give you peace. When you’re feeling down, just think on the things God has provided for your growing family and you will be amazed!

MEAGHAN SIMONS
Newport, North Carolina, USA
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Picture: Dustin and Meaghan with their children:
From the left: Iris (11), Rose (10), Bethany Joy in mommy’s arms (6 months) Elisabeth in daddy's arms (2), children on the window seat--Max (8), Grace (6), and Isaac (4).

Then came some more all in a row.
Everywhere I went, six little arrows in tow.
God called me again to His mission field.
I answered, "To China, to Africa, to Israel, oh where?"
His voice was clear, soft, and gentle. My ministry arranged—

"My child, you are to polish our arrows,
Preparing them for My call to spread my
Words of life for other nations to see."

"Lord," I cried, "Loneliness surrounds my soul,
No other woman stands with me answering your call.
The sacrifice is great.
Women give way to another's voice, pulling them away
from their home, far from the quiver."

Once more I pleaded, "May I go too, Lord, I feel the call
To share with the lost life-giving words,
To feed the hungry a satisfying meal."

"My child," Jesus replied, "You share with your
children salvation and truth.
Feed them meals under your roof.
Discipline them, train them, and then lie down in peace,
For sacrificial love have you given to make the world right.
Arise in the morning, open My Book,
Teach them that into My eyes they must look."

"Yes, Lord, I replied, "But should I serve you in a more obvious way?"

"Child, my sweet child," God spoke once more.
“I anointed you to do this work—the high calling of motherhood.
To show our children the need for my love."

"Lord," I sought out, still not fully convinced,
"Should I sew for those in thread-barren clothes, a Dorcas, a Martha?"

"Sit at my feet, my child, listen to me.
Your daughter needs dresses, your sons’ warm shirts,
The button of your husband's coat still lies on the table.
Pick up your mantle, the rod of Aaron.
Lead my women back to their home.”

"Yes, Lord."

Filled and content, I took my position in God's mission field.
Hungry faces graced my bedside.
Clothed in God's mantle, children at my side,
I prepared breakfast.

PAULA MULLER
Broadnax, VA, USA
Painting: HENRI JULES JEAN GEOFFROY | Breakfast

Be blessed as you read this powerful testimony:

My husband and I had been married six years and I had convinced him we didn’t need to have children. “There are enough children in the world,” I would tell him. “Plus, I am too busy pursuing my interior design career,” making myself and temporary possessions a priority. My heart and mind were turning toward a lifestyle of materialism and feminism and further away from God’s truth!

Not to mention I had suffered chronic migraines since I was five years old and sometimes getting them as often as twice a week. My doctor told me that if I ever “considered” having children, I would need to go off my migraine medicine for at least two months before trying to conceive. The potency of the migraine medicine could kill my unborn child if taken while pregnant. Clearly, I told myself, I would never have children!

At the time, I did not realize how deceived and blinded I was. Whenever someone asked or hinted about “when” my husband and I would have children, I hardened my heart more and more.

In October of 2014, while on a family trip, I read a copy of “The Family Meal Table and Hospitality” by Nancy Campbell that my mother-in-law gave to me. I absorbed the Scriptures and Spirit-inspired wisdom by Nancy. Having been consumed with work and preparation for our trip, I suddenly realized I had gone nearly a month without a migraine! What? Wow! I immediately realized God was at work and doing something big in my life!

Maybe, I thought, I could have children? My mother in law recommended I read “The Power of Motherhood” and “Be Fruitful and Multiply,” also by Nancy Campbell, without my ever mentioning to her the stirring I felt in my heart.

I dove into the books, soaking up all the Scriptures, and for the first time seeing what God had to say about motherhood and children. The more I read, the more I realized that having children was part of God’s plan and His calling as a believer. As Christians, we were called to further His kingdom! Something that really stuck out to me was how our careers are only temporary, but our children are eternal!

Immediately doubt began to creep in. We couldn’t afford children! The enemy began planting lies of fear and doubt and I let them grow.

“Maybe children aren’t for us,” I thought. I decided to pray. “God,” I asked, “if we are meant to have children, let my employer give me a raise without me asking him.” Now, here’s the thing, my boss never gave raises. Never. He only gave them (sometimes) after someone asked, and he didn’t like being asked either.

So, I thought I asked God for the impossible. I thought my prayer would clearly go unheard and would confirm having children was not an option for us. Two days later at work, my employer walked up to me and said, “Oh, by the way, I’m giving you a 25% raise and it will be reflected in this coming pay check.”

WHAT?! Not only had God answered and provided, but the Lord prompted my employer to give me a raise even before I had prayed for it! God was showing me that He was a step ahead of me already! I knew this was no coincidence and told my husband later that day all God had been doing in my life. I told him how God had answered my prayer about getting a raise as confirmation we were to have children.

I expected my husband to be thrilled, but to my surprise, he seemed fearful and uncertain. By now I had brainwashed him into thinking children were too expensive and we were not going to have them. I told him I would look into our insurance and find out what it would cost to have a child and how much we would pay out of pocket, so we could start saving and planning. This put his mind at ease for the most part.

I began researching our insurance benefits and finding out how much it could cost. Worst case scenario, we would spend $5,000 out of pocket. We were not trusting God, but instead trying to provide and take control of the situation ourselves.

The next day I walked out to our mailbox and found a letter from my grandmother. As I opened it, a check fell out. The amount was for $5,000. There are no words to express my shock. Once again, God had gone before us and provided for us. God was working mightily.

My grandmother had sold her house and decided to split the money between all her grandchildren without us knowing. Coincidence? I think not. I told my husband and we knew without a doubt we were meant to have children. Well, I wish I could say we got pregnant immediately. I thought this would be the case, but God had another plan. Over the next five months God took me on a journey as He led me through a season of learning to wait and abide in Him. I had gone from one extreme to the next.

I went from not wanting a child to wanting a child more than anything!

The Lord provided before and I had to learn to completely trust Him in a totally new way as I waited for Him to now provide us with a child. I had to learn my timing was not His timing and He would provide at His perfect time. I had to learn to surrender my agenda and plan and humbly receive His will and plan for our lives.

He taught me, as I grieved for the child I could not have, that it was His child, and I had to learn, even before becoming pregnant, that I had to surrender my child to Him. I had to learn He was enough. I searched the Scriptures and prayed for God to open my womb as He did for so many women in the Bible. I pleaded and poured my heart out to him as did Hannah in 1 Samuel.

I meditated on Psalms 113:9: “He settles the barren women in her home as a happy mother of children.” It was when I fully understood and wholeheartedly received what the Lord needed to teach me during this season of waiting that I discovered I was pregnant with a son! The Lord has since provided us with a daughter as well!

The Lord has shown us countless more ways of how He provides financially as I have put my high paying career on hold and have fully devoted myself to the ministry of motherhood! Our God is gracious! He hears our prayers! He provides!

CHRISTINA STAREY
Austin, Texas, USA
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Picture: Christian and Earl with their sweet children: Stephen (2 ½) and Avery Grace (6 months).

P.S. THE FAMILY MEAL TABLE AND HOSPITALITY is no longer in print.

You can order THE POWER OF MOTHERHOOD by going to this link: http://bit.ly/PowerOfMotherhoodUS

You can order BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY by going to this link: http://bit.ly/BeFruitfulAndMultiply

BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY is also available as an audio book, especially great for husbands who mostly would rather listen than read.
https://tinyurl.com/BFAMAudioBook

My husband and I married March 2007 and discovered we were pregnant the very next month with our honeymoon baby. Those first two years of marriage had many challenges: the deaths of two close relatives, an out-of-state move, another in-state move, two job changes, an economic downturn, two babies, and a lot of disappointment and failure. But through all the turmoil, the biggest and most important way the Lord provided was HIS GRACE to press forward and hope in something better.

Of course, the Lord provides for physical and temporal needs through monetary gain. Yes, we have been blessed with positive job changes that brought an increase in money, benefits, and respect. Our family has gone from renting a townhouse in a bad neighborhood to buying our own home in the mountains with acreage. What a wonderful God we serve!

But monetary gain is just the tip of the iceberg to the ways I've seen God provide personally. He is limitless and so are the ways in which He gives. He gives us WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION in His Word. This includes parameters for financial stewardship, debt-free investments, real estate and property values, the importance of work ethic, making personal sacrifices, discerning needs versus wants, delayed gratification, and dependence on the Lord.

Sometimes we forget too, that most of the world does not live as luxuriously as most Americans. It can be helpful to lower our standards of living to stretch the budget.

The Lord has moved in the hearts of others through COMPASSION AND GENEROSITY. Jobs that might have gone to someone else fell instead to us. Families with older children blessed us with hand-me-down clothes and shoes. There have been many random, anonymous acts of kindness.

We're expecting our seventh child and have never gone without food on the table, a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, or transportation. We are rich because He is rich!

Ultimately, He provides the REDEMPTION SALVATION for which we could never have hoped to accomplish for ourselves. And there is no greater need for mankind than that.

When I'm tempted to fear, be anxious, and doubt, I remember what He has taught me in His Word.

1. God is OMNISCIENT. He knows everything, and nothing escapes His notice. There's always more going on than what I know about.

2. God is GOOD. His desire for me is good. The circumstance may not be pleasant, and often it isn't. But in the end, it makes me more holy, which is always good.

3. God is FAITHFUL. He never fails to give His people exactly what they need when they need it.

4. God NEVER CHANGES. He isn't fickle like so many people today. He is always the same.

5. God is TRUSTWORTHY. I can lay everything in His hands. He knows what He's doing. I do not need to be anxious. I do not need to not fear. I don’t have to doubt. If all we have is Christ, then we have everything we need, both now and eternally!

MEGGAN ANDERSON
Waleska, Georgia, USA
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
https://andersonmusicandhomeschool.com/

Picture: Jeramy and Meggan with their six children: Moriah (10), Lily (9), Shiphrah (8), Joseph (6), Daniel (4), Tabitha (2) and new baby due September 4th.

“What do you mean by abounding?” you ask. 1 Corinthians 15:58 tells us to ABOUND in the work of the Lord. Motherhood is the great work God has given us to do, so why not do it with right attitude?

What kind of attitude? The Bible tells us to have an abounding attitude. The word in the Greek is “perisseuo” and literally means “"to excel, to super-abound, to be excessive, abundant, enough and to spare, over and above.”

Now that’s “over the top” living, isn’t it? Is it possible live like this? In our daily life in our homes? Well, this is what God asks of us because He is not expecting us to live our lives, but for us to let Him live His life through us. The life of Jesus is not normal. It is over and above, more than enough, superabundant.

So, let’s get started.

You don’t smile on the odd occasion. You smile constantly. Whenever you look at your husband, you smile at him. Do you? When you look at our children, you smile at them. When you come out of your bedroom in the morning, you come with a happy face and a cheery “Good morning” to each one. You won’t believe what a difference this makes in your home.

When you encourage your children to do their chores, instead of nagging, you find ways to make it exciting for them. Inspire them. Teach them how to work with a smile. To do it with all their hearts. That won’t be hard for them because they see you doing everything in your home with all your heart.

They don’t see you groaning, complaining, and going around with a sour face. They see you smiling and getting stuck in to every task. You teach them the same way.

Whatever task you do, you do it enthusiastically. Happily.

Teach your children the little rhyme on page 16 in my nursery rhyme book, “Nanny’s Nursery Rhymes.” Get them to say it while they are working. Make up a tune for it.

When I have to do a chore,
I do it straight away,
I never grumble or complain,
There’s always time to play.

I put a smile upon my face,
Because I know it’s right.
I put my shoulder to the task,
And do it with my might.

Pin the following Scriptures up on your walls for yourself and your children to learn.

Ecclesiastes 9:10: “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”

Colossians 3;23: “Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

When it’s time to prepare meals, don’t sigh because there’s another meal to cook. Do it with a joyful heart. Make every meal a love affair. Go beyond the normal and make it special. Praise the Lord you have the opportunity to make nourishing healthy meals for your husband and children.

Throw yourself into your great calling. Don't do it half-heartedly, or half-time. Don't do it grumblingly, grudgingly, or grouchily. Never the status quo, but more than is necessary.

Be uplifted today,

NANCY CAMPBELL

P.S. Don’t miss the other posts on this Scripture: Check down in you Facebook for them.
August 2: ARE YOU SETTLED?
August 10: ARE YOU RESTED?
August 13: ARE YOU UNMOVABLE?

Not only does God want us to be settled and rested in our homes. He wants us to be unmovable from our calling. Not tossed to and fro by every change of doctrine or whim of society. Instead, firmly planted in God’s truth.

Nothing will move you from your high calling. You won't be moved by the negative statements from your family and friends about having more children or homeschooling. You won't be moved when facing hardships or financial stress. You've counted the cost. Your heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. You are unshakable. You know you are in the perfect will of God. You know your purpose. You will stand true to your convictions.

When Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem to repair and build the gates of Jerusalem he faced continual persecution and ridicule. His enemies did everything in their power to thwart him from his great purpose. When they asked him to come down, he refused to stop his great work. Instead, he sent messengers to them, saying: "I AM DOING A GREAT WORK, SO THAT I CANNOT COME DOWN: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?" (Nehemiah 6:3).

Print or type these words in LARGE print and pin them up in your kitchen. When others tempt you, or you are tempted yourself to come down from your high calling, speak them out loud. Don't lower yourself to come down. Keep up your great work. You don’t have time to deviate from your purpose.

Like Nehemiah you are building a wall of defense to protect your family. You are involved in the greatest building program in the nation, building a strong marriage and family.

You won’t be deterred from your purpose (Nehemiah 6:3).
You won’t be deviated from the will of God (1 John 2:19-21).
You won’t be deceived, deluded, and duped by the leftist and humanistic ideologies of this current society (Jeremiah 28:8,9 1 Corinthians 3:18, 19; 1 Timothy 2:14; and 2 Timothy 3;1214).
You won’t be dumbed down by the lies of the feminists (Ephesians 6:13, 14).
You won’t be denied the blessings God has ordained for you as a mother in the home (John 10:10).
You won’ be disappointed and depressed by being obedient to God’s plan (Psalm 113:9).

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

I came home with more vegetables than I could hold. We shared our bounty between the two families. That was provision one.

The very next day we came to a big paper sign on the side of the house saying: “Look around the corner.” To our complete surprise, there were three huge boxes of groceries. Some cans and bottles had labels we had never seen before. Though we tried to find our benefactors to thank them, we were unsuccessful. God is truly amazing.

SALLY BURGESS
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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PICTURES: Sally and Brian and their grandchildren: From left are Lincoln (10), Jagger (6), Ryker (nearly 3), Niko (8), and Jaedon (12).

On August 2nd I posted ARE YOU SETTLED? I shared about how God wants us to be settled in our homes. But forgive me, I forgot to send you Part 2, ARE YOU RESTED? So here it is for you today.

Did you know that God wants our homes to be places of rest? “Help! How do I manage that?” you reply! “How can I rest with screaming toddlers all around me and so much going on? I’m in a state of tension, not rest!”

I know life can be overwhelmingly busy for you when you have little ones, and even middling and big ones! But God has provided a place of rest for us even in the midst of our busy lives. Hebrews 4:9, 10 says: “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.”

Do you notice that this Scripture speaks about God’s rest, not our rest? We can’t live in rest trying to find our own rest. Our rest is in Christ, as we abide in Him and He abides in us. Jesus Christ lives in rest. Nothing takes Him by surprise. He doesn’t ever get into a turmoil. Everything is under His control. And he lives in you and me! What more do we need?

Back in Bible days, God rested in the Holy of holies so that He could be near His people. Now He wants to rest in your heart and in your home, for God is a "dwelling God."

Psalm 132:13-14 says: "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." God desires a resting place. He wants to rest in your home, but He can't do this if you don't believe your home is your resting place.

Proverbs 24:15: "Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting place." Don’t let anything or anyone spoil your resting place. Don’t allow worries and anxieties to spoil your resting place. What are you worrying about when the God of rest who has everyone under His command dwells in you?

Isaiah 32:18: "My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

I believe it is important for us to find "rest" in our home and in our mothering. When you are settled and rested in it, you will be at peace. Of course, I don't mean you will live a life of ease with nothing to do but lie on the sofa and read books! Motherhood can be a hectic and demanding life. How could it be anything else when you are determining the future destiny of a nation? But in the midst of accomplishing all you must do, you can have a spirit of rest and peace, knowing that you are in the perfect will of God.

Many times, we don’t live in rest because we are unnecessarily busy. We are doing too much outside the home instead of being content to do what God has given us in the home. If we rush about here and there and are forever in the car taking our children to this and that, we can get weary and exhausted.

God holds the secret for us. He says in Hosea 11:11 (Knox): “IN THEIR OWN HOME, the Lord says, I will give them rest.” You will find rest in your home, not gadding about everywhere.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

We had been renting a home in a cul-de-sac, but I had always longed for a little more space for our children to play. That spring, some friends in the church approached us about buying their home on five acres. When we talked to them, we still owned a home in Idaho and didn’t want a second mortgage, so we turned them down. They came to us a second time and offered to rent us their home until we sold ours in Idaho. The rent would be the amount as we were paying for our cul-de-sac home. That seemed like an obvious open door and so we accepted and moved in the week before the twins were born!

Not only did they rent it to us, but they also sold it to us for the same price they bought it for two years prior, which was about $60k under market value!

About a month before the girls were born, the Lord answered our prayers in a major way. We had been praying about how to afford a larger vehicle since our eight-passenger van wouldn’t hold our entire family. We couldn’t afford a larger van because we owed money on our current van. One Sunday morning, an envelope was handed to me from an anonymous giver—an envelope full of cash--$7000! That was exactly what we had owed on our vehicle. We were able to pay our vehicle off and eventually get another that was able to seat our entire family.

After the girls were born, there were numerous things (car seats, high chairs, a larger vehicle, and many other miscellaneous things) that we needed for our growing family. As a family, we presented our list to the Lord every evening and watched Him fill EVERY need. It was truly miraculous! So much so, that a few months down the road another need came up and my oldest son said, “Just pray about it, Mom, the Lord always gives us what we need!” Ah, out of the mouths of babes! I figure if my children learn that God is our Jehovah Jireh, our Provider, they will have an amazing start to their own journeys as they leave the nest!

AMY WOODWARD
Lebanon, Oregon, USA
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Doug and Amy with their delightful family: Back row: Caleb (11), Doug, Amy, Isaiah (5 months), Matt (14), Aaron (9). Front row: Andrew (7), Abigail (2), Sarah (2), Anna (3), and Levi (5).

Every person who believes they are a Bible believing Christian should watch this DVD. Invite others to your home to watch it with you.

Available to you at the DISCOUNTED price of only $7.50! You can purchase two for the price of one to inform someone else as well.

Go to: http://tinyurl.com/TheBabyWar