Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

As a family, we love to celebrate Christmas, not the tinsel and glamor, but the preciousness of gathering together as a family. Our family gatherings are so special and wonderful. We also love to remember the most amazing event in the world when God sent His Son to this world—into the womb of a woman and to be born as a little baby.

Bible commentators agree that Jesus was not born at this Christmas time when the world remembers His birth. He would most probably have been born about the month of September during the Feast of Tabernacles. However, this is most probably that time that He was divinely conceived by the power of the of Holy Ghost. Incredible. God coming to the earth as a "seed" from the Father. I am in awe.

We sing the words of O Holy Night:
“Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!”

I am sure you are like me and can do nothing less than fall to your knees in wonder and worship!

However, we also love to celebrate Hanukkah. We love to light the Hanukkah candles each night and to also read Scriptures about the Light during our morning and evening devotions. Why do we celebrate Hanukkah?

1. It is a celebration that Jesus celebrated. Read John 10:22, 23.

2. Hanukkah in the Hebrew means "dedication." God's temple was desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 BC, but the Maccabees family led a revolt against the Seleucid armies and called the nation back to God. After they had driven them out of Judea and Jerusalem, the Maccabees consecrated and rededicated the temple. However, God no longer lives in a temple in Jerusalem, but lives in the temple of our hearts. We like to use Hanukkah as time to rededicate the temple of our lives to God.

3. It is called the Feast of Dedication (John 10:22) and also the Festival of Lights. It celebrates the re-lighting of the Menorah. They could only find enough oil for one day, but miraculously the lights kept burning for eight days while they prepared the anointing oil, specifically commanded in the Scriptures. Because this celebration remembers the relighting of the menorah, we like to read Scriptures about God and Christ who are the light and how He also wants us to be His light in this world. We do this at our Family Devotions each morning and evening. And each night we light a Hanukkah candle.

I will post the Scriptures at the end of this article. Read and meditate on them in your personal devotional time. Then choose the ones you would like to use with your family. For each day, you may like to take half the Scriptures at Family Devotions in the morning and the other half in the evening, or whatever works out in your home.

If you have older children, it's a lovely idea for each one to have their own Bible and give a Scripture for each one to read aloud--and to share what they feel God is saying through the Scriptures. If you have little ones, you may only want to take one, or one or two Scriptures from the list and talk about it.

And don't forget to ask your children questions as you read the Scriptures. This is how you learn together.

During the eight days of Hanukkah, I usually send out a post each day telling you a little story about Hanukkah that relates to us as mothers, or a revelation from the Scriptures about the meaning of Hanukkah. I didn't get around to doing it this year and therefore I am behind time! Here they are for you in one big lump. I know you will enjoy them. You will be inspired, blessed, and encouraged.

Don’t forget to read the devotion for Day 8! FULL TIME HANUKKAH PARENTING! You will be inspired.

HANUKKAH DEVOTIONS
The following are some very interesting Hanukkah devotions.

MY FAMILY AND I WILL NEVER GIVE UP (Day 1 of Hanukkah)

Hanukkah, or the Feast of Dedication as it is called in the New Testament (John 10:22-23) is a festival of lighting candles for eight days to remember the dedication of the temple and the relighting of the lampstand which God commanded should never go out (Exodus 27:20-21).

It all happened because of a very brave family. Antiochus Epiphanes ruled over Israel and commanded all Jews to renounce their way of life, practice pagan observances, and live like the Greeks. He erected the "abomination of desolation" in the temple. Many Jews assimilated to avoid persecution and being killed. BUT NOT THIS FAMILY!

Mattathias was a godly older man with five brave sons--John, Simon, Judas (known as Maccabeus), Eleazar, and Jonathan. When the officials came to their town of Modein, they tried to get Mattathias to influence the people of his town to turn away from God. Listen to his reply, "Mattathias answered in a LOUD VOICE: What do I care if everyone in the king's entire kingdom turns from their own religion and starts obeying his laws? MY FAMILY AND I WILL ALWAYS KEEP THE PROMISES OUR ANCESTERS MADE TO GOD. WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP OUR FAITH OR DISOBEY EVEN ONE OF GOD'S LAWS. WE WILL NOT OBEY ANTIOCHUS!" (1 Maccabees 2:19-20).

When a cowardly Jew stepped forward to obey the king by offering a sacrifice, Mattathias was so furious that he rushed over, killed the man, destroyed the altar, and killed the official who ordered the sacrifice. He and his sons then ran to the hills leaving everything they owned behind. This began the bravery of the Maccabee family who conducted continual battles against the enemy and eventually delivered Israel and Jerusalem and the temple of God.

We don't face being killed for our faith today here in our Western countries, although this is currently happening in many countries of the world. Will we be those who give in or will we have courage, individually, and as families to stand true to God, even if no one else is standing? The Scripture says, "Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4).

May God give us the strength and anointing to be bold and courageous and to raise children who will have courage and boldness to stand up for truth and never give up their faith.

STAND FOR TRUTH (Day 2 of Hanukkah)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God was never reticent to speak the truth, even in the face of death. When he came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of Dedication, he walked in Solomon's Porch (on the eastern side of the temple) and people gathered around him.

Jesus knew the Jews would be remembering more than the rededication of the temple and the lighting of the Menorah again. They remembered the great victory over Antiochus Epiphanes, but also how he lifted himself to be god over them. It was Antiochus himself who added "Epiphanes" to his name, which means "God manifest" which was utter blasphemy to the Jews.

In the midst of this thinking Jesus boldly and publically declared, "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). In other words, He confessed that He was God, which of course, He was! This was too much for the Jews who, remembering Antiochus Epiphanes the evil blasphemer, took up stones to stone him (John 10:22-33).

It was no coincidence that Jesus chose this timing to speak these words. Everything about Hanukkah speaks of standing up for truth even in the face of danger.

May we never cringe to speak the truth, no matter what the consequences. "The righteous are bold as a lion" (Proverbs 28:1).

MORE AND MORE LIGHT (Day 3 of Hanukkah)

Are you reading the Scriptures I posted for you? If not, you can still print them off. Go down a few posts and you’ll find them. We loved talking about the Scriptures we read last night, especially how Jesus Christ is the One who lights every person who comes into the world.

John 1:9 tells us that Jesus is “THE TRUE LIGHT, WHICH LIGHTS EVERY MAN THAT COMES INTO THE WORLD." Every person who is born into this world is without excuse regarding their relationship with God. Every new baby is born with a God consciousness, a light from God our Maker. We have a conscience that knows what is good and evil. This only comes from God.

Proverbs 20:27 says "The spirit of man is the candle (light) of the Lord." Have you noticed that when a new baby is born into a family that a heavenly atmosphere fills the home? There is an "awe" that we only experience with a new babe. It’s a new light from heaven. Little children are so open to God. I loved to watch my three-year old grand-daughter sing all day about how Jesus is in her heart and how she loves God.

Why then, do many walk in darkness? The answer is in John 3:19-21. We are all born with a light from God, but we can either push back the light or open to the light. It is a privilege for children to be born into a home where parents love God. These children have an opportunity to receive more and more light. In an ungodly home, the light with which they are born can be gradually extinguished or often smothered completely.

I believe that every time we say Yes to God and obey the prompting of His Holy Spirit within our hearts, we experience more light in our lives. Every time we say No to God and are disobedient to the Word, we accept darkness. Teach your children this principle, dear mother. Teach them that saying Yes to you and Yes to God will bring them to further light (Proverbs 4:18). Teach them that when they say No to you and No to God's ways, their minds and hearts will cloud with darkness.

Job 18:5, 6 says, "Yes, the light of the wicked shall be put out, and the spark of his fire shall not shine. The light shall be dark in his tabernacle, and his candle shall be put out with him." I don't want it to be dark in my home, naturally and spiritually. I hate to have curtains and blinds pulled over and everything looking dark. My curtains are always open (just as well I live in the country!). I love the light and the more the better. And it’s the same spiritually. I want more and more spiritual light in my home and less and less of darkness. I'm sure you don't want it to be dark in your home either.

Let's open our hearts and minds MORE AND MORE to the light of God. Let’s encourage our children into more and more of the light and revelation of God. Begin each day by praying, "Oh Lord God, please flood my mind, my heart, and my home with your light, today. Amen."

FAMILY DEDICATION SERVICE (Day 4 of Hanukkah)

Why do we call this celebration "Hanukkah"? Because "Hanukkah" is the Hebrew word for "dedication." When Judas Maccabee (the hammer) and his army eventually crushed their enemies, Judas and his brothers said, "Let's go up to cleanse and rededicate the sanctuary" (1 Maccabees 4:36). The temple was desolate, the gates burned, and even shrubs were growing in the courts like a forest! But they restored the sanctuary, built a new altar with whole unpolished stones (because the altar had been desecrated by Antiochus Epiphanes), brought in the Lampstand, the Altar of Incense and the Table of Showbread, and offered sacrifices as God originally commanded. "So they celebrated the rededication of the altar for eight days" (1 Maccabees 4:56).

How does this affect our lives? God no longer lives in the Holy of Holies in the temple, but in our bodies, which are the temple of His Holy Spirit. We not only the temple of the Holy Spirit, but the "naos" which speaks of the Holy of Holies. This is the very word which is used in 1 Corinthians 6:19 and 2 Corinthians 6:16. What an indescribable truth!

Our temple may not be desolate, but it is very easy for us to allow things to come into our lives which grieve the Holy Spirit and spoil and dirty our “naos.”

It is a lovely idea to have a rededication service one night during Hanukah and dedicate our temples again to the Lord. Choose which morning or evening you would like to do this together as a family. Explain to your children about it, and then ask each one of them to confess to the Lord anything in their lives that grieves the Holy Spirit and to rededicate their "body temple" to the Lord. This includes mom and dad too, of course. Each one can do this silently or orally as you feel led of the Holy Spirit.

When we have all dedicated ourselves individually, then the father can rededicate the whole family to be a living sacrifice to the Lord and to be set apart for His purposes (Romans 12:1-2).

I know that the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily as you experience this dedication service in your home.

A MOTHER'S COURAGE (Day 5 of Hanukkah)

A brave mother watched her son being killed. No, not just killed but cruelly tortured. They cut out his tongue, scalped him, cut off his hands and feet, and then maimed and helpless, fried him alive! In the same manner, they tortured and killed her second and third sons. The third son cried out, "I have received these limbs from heaven, and I give them up for the sake of God's laws." Another cried out, "We are prepared to die rather than sin against our ancestral laws" (2 Maccabees 7:2, 11).

Because they would not bend and turn from God's laws this dear mother watched as Antiochus tortured her fourth, fifth, and sixth sons the same way. The mother had only one son left, her beloved youngest. Antiochus tried to influence the mother to save his life. He promised he would make him rich and prosperous and even a political advisor. She obliged by turning to her youngest son saying, "Son, pity me who carried you in the womb nine months, nursed you for three years, nurtured you, and brought you into this stage of life with care. I beg you, child . . . Don't fear this killer but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death so that in God's mercy I should recover you with your brothers" (2 Maccabees 7:27-29). She watched her last son die before she was put to death herself.

This mother was a nurturing and caring mother. But she had a vision for her children beyond this earth. She raised her sons to fear God rather than man. She raised them to stand for truth, no matter what the consequences. She raised them to see beyond this earth to the endless life of the heavenly.

May God help us to be courageous mothers. May He save us from raising wimpy, mediocre children who are seduced by the humanist trend of an ungodly society. May He anoint us with the mighty power of God to raise children who will have the courage to stand for God and for truth, no matter what persecution they face.

(You can read the whole of this amazing story in the Apocrypha in 2 Maccabees chapter seven).

RELIGHT YOUR LAMPS (Day 6 of Hanukkah)

Hanukkah is also called the "Festival of Lights" because of the relighting of the Menorah. This was a huge thing that happened that day, because the Jews knew that God had commanded the lights in the Holy Place to BURN CONTINUALLY. They were to never to go out--and they had been out for a long time! God said it was a statute that must continue for all generations (Exodus 27:20-21 and Leviticus 24:1-4).

How did they keep the lamps burning day after day, year after year? God said they had to attend to the lamps every morning and every evening. They had to trim the wicks and pour more oil into the lamps, the oil speaking of the Holy Spirit. Once a day was not sufficient. It required attention two times a day to keep the light burning

This is a type for our lives today. When the Holy Spirit comes into our lives, He fills us with His light, but it is very easy for the light to dim or even go out. There are many temptations, deceptions, and evils around that diminish our light. To keep the light burning, we must tend to it every morning and evening. We need to do this individually and as a family.

A powerful way to keep God's light burning in every member of our family is to have Family Devotions (or whatever you call it in your home) every morning and evening. Each time we come together as a family, read the Word, and spend time in prayer, we relight our lamps. If we fail to do this, our light can go out very quickly.

How big is the flame in your family? We are not meant to be a flickering light, but a great light. If your flame is only smoldering, get back to God's "morning and evening" principle. It's the only way that works. Let the light in "the holy place" of your temple and your home shine for all to see God's light.

THE WAY TO VICTORY (Day 7 of Hanukkah)

Judas Maccabee and his brothers continually fought battles to save Israel and every time they faced armies far larger and stronger than themselves. But their trust was in God.

Listen to Judas' confession on one occasion: "When all his followers saw the host coming against them, they said to Judas, 'How can so few of us fight against so many? Besides, we have had nothing to eat all day, and we are exhausted.' Judas replied: 'Many can easily be overpowered by a few; it makes no difference to Heaven to save by many or by few. Victory does not depend on numbers; strength comes from Heaven alone . . . Heaven will crush them before our eyes. You need not be afraid of them'" (1 Maccabees 3:17-21).

The Israelites also had to face enemies far bigger than them. Deuteronomy 9:1-3 says: “Hear O Israel: Thou art to pass over Jordan this day, to go in to possess nations GREATER AND MIGHTIER than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven, a people great and tall, the children of the Anakims (giants), whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak! Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee.”

I know that you, too, often face dilemmas that loom much bigger than you can handle. Don't focus on your difficulty. Look to God. He is your Strength. He is your Source. He is your Sufficiency. He will always do what you cannot do. When we try to handle our problems we usually make a mess of the job. Put them in God's hands for He knows what is best to do.

Victory does not come by intelligence or fleshly strength. It only comes from God. Just as God delivered the Maccabees time and time again as they faced insurmountable armies, so God will deliver you as you trust in Him. Make sure you have the right confession. Don't confess your problems; confess your trust in God. It's the way to victory.

FULL TIME HANUKKAH PARENTING (Day 8 of Hanukkah)
AN IMPORTANT POST FOR ALL PARENTS TO READ!

Apart from the official Hanukkah celebration which we finish celebrating today, we read about a number of dedication celebrations in God's Word.

1) Dedicating the tabernacle for 12 days. Each prince of Israel dedicated the altar for a day each (Number 7:10-11, 84, 88). This was the first dedication we read about.
2) Dedicating a new house (Deuteronomy 20:5). It is biblical to dedicate a new house.
3) Dedicating Solomon's temple which he built for the Lord (1 Kings 8:62 and 2 Chronicles 7:5, 9).
4) Dedicating the rebuilt temple when they came back from Babylon--Zerubbabel's temple (Ezra 6:16).
5) Dedicating the rebuilt walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 12:27).

And there is one more! You'll never guess!

It is found in Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." The word "train" is "hanuk," the verb of hanukkah, meaning "to initiate, dedicate, consecrate." It is not enough to celebrate Hanukkah for eight days. As parents, we are FULLTIME HANUKKAH CELEBRATORS!

When we realize that training our children means to dedicate them to the Lord, it gives us a much larger and loftier vision. Everything we do and plan for our children should be done in the light of dedicating our them to the Lord and setting them apart for His service. It's not a one-time dedication. It is a verb which requires daily action.

When our children are disobedient or don't complete what we have asked them to, we can sometimes be lazy and let it go. But not if we understand we are daily dedicating them to the Lord. How can we let things go when we consecrating them to God's holy service? We have the responsibility to train them to obedient so they will be obedient to the Lord!

As children get older, they can become more worldly and want to do what other worldly teens are doing. We could think, "Oh that's the stage they are going through." But not if we understand that we are daily consecrating them to the Lord. We will pray up a storm. We will fight the devil. We will work with our children to keep them on the narrow road that leads to life. We will do everything to save them from the broad road that leads to destruction. WE ARE PROVERBS 22:6 HANUKKAH PARENTS!

When we "hanuk" our children, it determines how we educate our children. It would be ludicrous to send our children into an ungodly education system each day if we are daily consecrating them for God's purposes.

As we consecrate our children to the Lord, we recognize that they totally belong to the Lord for whatever time God has for them on this earth. Above everything else, we know that we are ultimately preparing them for eternity.

Blessings from NANCY CAMPBELL

SCRIPTURES FOR YOU TO READ EACH DAY FOR HANUKKAH

Day 1
God is the Source of Light and gives Light
Genesis 1:3-5
Exodus 27:20-21; 40:24-25; cf. Leviticus 24:1-4; Numbers 8:1-3
Exodus 13:21; Nehemiah 9:12,19
Psalm 36:9
Psalm 104:1-2
Matthew 17:2 (You can read the whole story in Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-13; and Luke 9:28-36).
1 Timothy 6:16
James 1:17

Day 2
Jesus is the Light of the World
Isaiah 9:2, cf. Matthew 4:12-17
Luke 1:76-79; 2:27-32
John 1:4-9, cf. Job 18:5-6; 21:17; Proverbs 13:9; 20:20; 24:20.
John 3:19-21
John 8:12
John 9:5
John 12:44-46
Acts 26:22-23
Ephesians 5:14

Day 3
Shine the Light of Jesus to the world
Proverbs 4:18
Isaiah 58:6-8, 10
Isaiah 60:1-2
Matthew 5:14-16
Luke 12:35
John 5:35
Acts 13:47
2 Corinthians 4:4-6
Philippians 2:14, 15

Day 4
God's Word is our Light
Ezra 9:8
Psalm 19:7-11
Psalm 119:18, 105, 130
Proverbs 6:20-24
Luke 24:30-32 (You can read the whole story in verses 13-32).
Ephesians 1:17-18
2 Peter 1:19-21

Day 5
Walk in the Light
Psalm 89:15
Isaiah 2:5
Romans 13:12-14
2 Corinthians 4:4-7
1 John 1:6-9
1 John 2:8-11
Ephesians 5:8-20

Day 6
Out of Darkness into Light
2 Samuel 22:29 (Psalm 18:28)
Isaiah 42:16
Isaiah 50:10
Acts 26:17-18
1 Corinthians 4:5
1 Thessalonians 5:5
1 Peter 2:9

Day 7
Living in God is to live in Light
Psalm 4:6
Psalm 27:1
Psalm 37:3-6
Psalm 43:3-4
Psalm 112:4
Micah 7:8

Day 8
God is the Light of Heaven
Isaiah 24:23; 30:26
Isaiah 60:19, 20
Revelation 21:22-25
Revelation 22:3-5

The challenge to us is that if we do not work to guard our home and family, the devil will outdo us. If mothers would rather work outside their home than in their home, they give room for the devil to work in their home behind their backs! This is one of the reasons the devil woos women out of the home. He can then get his hands upon the minds and hearts of our precious children. If mothers are not protecting, guiding, teaching, and nurturing their children in the home, who is? Who is that person? Are they godly? Are they righteous? Are they anointed from God for the task? Are they teaching our children the truth?

We must work to keep our home a place of love, joy, delight, and holiness. This takes work.

Keep working dear mother. Don’t let up. Don’t let the devil work havoc in your marriage and children while you are busy with other things.

One of the greatest ways we destroy the “works of the devil” is through fervent prayer. How much are you praying for your children? Your home? Future generations?

Keep the devil at bay from your marriage and home.

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

What kind of a home are you creating? We often carry on the same ideas and traditions of the home in which we were brought up. We do what we do because we’ve always done it and that’s the way our mothers did it! I was talking to a lady yesterday who said she always used Tide to wash her clothes because her mother always used Tide.

I will admit that some traditions are good, and we should keep them going for generations. Other things may not be the best. We should always be seeking to know what is the best way, don’t you think? This is a challenge for me too. I can get into a rut, although my aim is to be always open to the best way.

I am sure we’ll all concede that God’s ways are the best ways. Now we are not going to learn the best ways to clean our home or cook a certain meal from the Bible, although God will teach us as we seek Him. However, He does shows us the best way to live our lives and establish our families. That’s why we must constantly seek God’s Word to know if we are living in the truth or not. I believe this is especially necessary for us mothers. We have such a responsibility to lead our children the right way, or we are “blind guides” and both we and our children will fall into the pit (Matthew 15:14).

Let’s look at just two examples in God’s Word today. 2 Corinthians 5;15 says: “He (Jesus Christ) died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” These words are the opposite to the attitude that is prevalent today. Most Christian women confess they must have time for themselves, time to get away from their children, time to go out and relax, and so on. These things are nice, but it doesn’t always work out practically when we have little children.

Therefore, what is our attitude? Do we get into a state of self-pity because we don’t have all the time we want for ourselves? Do we have an entitlement attitude of “I deserve to have my time and I deserve this and that?” Or do we embrace the principle that we are not meant to live unto ourselves, but unto Jesus who died for us. Jesus didn’t live His life to Himself, but poured out His life for us.

Mot people would like to be great and known for something important into their lives. That’s why some mothers are discontent with motherhood. They feel they should be out in their career, making a name for themselves. But what is God’s principle? If you want to be great in God’s
kingdom, you must become the servant of all (Mark 10:42-45). “A servant,” did you say? Yes, that’s what Jesus was. And because He humbled himself to become a servant, God highly exalted Him (Philippians 2:5-11).

Which attitudes do you have? Are you building them in your family? Showing by your example and teaching your children these biblical principles? These principles make for harmonious and blessed living. God’s way is always the best. And they prepare our children how to live their lives.

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Some don’t like cooking because it has been looked upon as an inferior task. But Scripture reveals it is a God-like ministry. But cooking is an art. We must practice it. Learn to do it better. Learn to do it with love, not just the love of cooking, but to show our love to our husband and family.

It’s the same with everything we do as a woman. Birthing is an art. Many women never get to practice the art. They often let the hospital staff take control of their birth. I think most of us didn’t know what we were doing the first time we gave birth. But as each succeeding baby comes we learn more. We understand our body more. We learn out to go with our contractions and the way God has planned to bring the baby forth.

Breastfeeding is an art. Not many feel relaxed at nursing the moment they begin with their first baby. But as we press through with the little (or sometimes big) problems that occur, we learn the art. It becomes a beautiful art. We know how to do it. We learn that it is not just feeding our baby, but total mothering. Whenever need our baby has, we can usually pacify and console that need with nursing. It becomes part of our life.

Homemaking is an art. We continue honing and learning all the time. If we think we have learned everything, we are deceived. I am now into the great-grandmother stage and I am still finding out better ways of doing things.

Dearest wives and mothers, let’s not get bogged down into a rut. Let’s press on to greater things. Let’s hone all the beautiful arts we have the privilege of doing as wives and mothers.

Let’s become great artists. We all have creative gifts in different ways. Let’s use these gifts in our homes to make them beautiful, to make them filled with the presence of God, to make our homes a delight to ourselves, our family, and all who come in.

Blessings to you today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting by Stephen John Darbishire, British painter.

Some women think that cooking is a lowly job. They would rather do something far more important. However, we learn a big lesson from the life of Jesus. After He rose from the dead He wanted to spend some time with His disciples.

He knew where he’d find them. Down at the lake fishing as usual. He knew they’d be tired and hungry, so He decided to make a fire of coals on the shore and cook some fish and bread for them. He ministered to their immediate needs by cooking a meal.

But just a minute. Who was this person cooking? It was Jesus, the One who had just risen from the dead, the One who had conquered death and hell, the One who was King of kings and Lord of lords. What was he doing? Cooking! Did you get it? He was cooking! Jesus knew that real fellowship happens over a meal. No one wants to share their heart when they are hungry and desperate to eat. When we feed people, it prepares the way for deeper fellowship and ministering into their spirit.

After Jesus spent time sharing with His disciples, He also had a very special word to give to Peter. He didn’t grab Peter as he came out of the water, wet and hungry, and say, "Pete, come here, I’ve got a word for you.” No, he gave him breakfast first. They talked and fellowshipped. After he was satisfied and relaxed, Jesus spoke to him: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” Three times he asked this question of Peter. Three times He gave him a divine mandate for his future ministry - “Feed My lambs . . . Feed My sheep . . . Feed My sheep.”

This only happened after Jesus had cooked for him and served him.

I love this account too in 1 Kings 19:4-8 where God sends an angel to minister to Elijah. The angel (which could be an appearance of Jesus Himself) makes a fire of coals and bakes a cake for him to eat. This is our God! Cooking another meal!

Whose footsteps are we following?

Love from Nancy Campbell

I love this picture of Jesus preparing the food for His disciples. i have it on my desk top in front of me.

Some people think that hospitality is for certain people who have that particular "ministry." No, hospitality is the lifestyle of the kingdom of God. It is a biblical doctrine that starts in Genesis and weaves through the pages of the Bible to Revelation. Hositality is an extension of your mothering and homemaking ministry (1 Timothy 5:10).

Your home is your greatest place to serve God, firstly to your husband and children and then to many who will be blessed by your food and love and encouragement at your table. As you open your home to the ones God lays on your heart, you will never have another boring moment.

Your home is the greatest place for people to feel the presence of God. It is the perfect place for lonely and broken-hearted people to experience God's love. It is where you encourage the saints in God and keep each other from going astray.

As Peter exhorts us how to live as we get closer to the coming of the Lord, he says, "The end of all things is at hand . . . Be hospitable to one another without grumbling" (1 Peter 4:7-10).

If God lives in your home, it will be an hospitable home.

Be encouraged,

Nancy Campbell

We discussed this Scripture with the children this morning. When we have family devotions, we don’t only read the Word, but ask questions to see if they understand and how they can work out God’s words practically in their lives. We talked about how they could each think of someone in the family to serve today by being kind to them and helping them. To tell you the truth, these children don’t need a lot of encouragement to do this. They are all servers and all work hard to bless the family.

Because Serene is pregnant, she didn’t want to inhale the fumes and so the children went back Saturday and hauled out all clothes, dishes, and everything in the home and washed them, put them all back, and left the home spick and span and shining clean. I went over to check-- it was perfection. I couldn’t have done a better job myself. These children are well-trained in how to clean and keep the house and they never complain, but love and rejoice to serve. They are all an absolute delight.

But I thought what a lovely motto to have in a home. If everyone in the family can be encouraged to serve, which means every person serving one another (husband and wife and children), what could be more wonderful?

Would you like to encourage this godly character in your home? It’s is the example of Jesus Himself who “came not to serve, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Philippians 2:7 tell us that when He came into this world He became “a servant.” The NLT translates it: “He gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave.”

Be blessed today,

Nancy Campbell

Meekness (to be humble and lowly) is a beautiful thing. God says that "He will BEAUTIY the meek with salvation" (Psalm 149:4).

1 Peter 3:4 talks about the “ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” Other translations use the word beauty:

ESV: “The imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.”
MOFFAT: “The immortal bleauty of a gentle, modest spirit.”
NET: “The lasting beauty of a gentle and tranquil spirit.”
NLT: “The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit.”

Meekness brings sweetness to relationships and the atmosphere of the home. It reveals the character of Jesus who is meek and lowly (Matthew 11:29). On the other hand, the opposite of meekness, which is stubbornness and pride, is an ugly thing. It destroys marriages and wrecks the atmosphere of the home.

Does meekness make you feel miserable? No. Isaiah 29:19 tells us that the meek INCREASE their joy in the Lord, plus a load of other blessings.

Samuel Thodey writes: "Meekness is that calmness of spirit which grows not out of reliance on self, but out of reliance on God . . . Christianity is a discipline of humility. In making men Christ-like it makes them meek."

Ask the Holy Spirit to work a spirit of meekness in you. It will bring such blessing to your marriage and home.

Be encouraged today,

Nancy Campbell

Each one of us faces our different storms. We may face even bigger storms ahead. The most important thing we can do is continually strengthen our inner man, our marriage, and our home. Ask God to show you any leaks where the destroying enemy can enter.

Our physical home constantly needs repair. I am glad I married a “Mr. Fix-it” as I call my husband. However, more than physical wear and tear is spiritual wear and tear.

Constantly check what is going on in your home. What are your children watching on the electronics in your home? The enemy hates godly homes and he looks for openings in the walls where he can enter in. He looks for broken down walls.

Close all holes. Take authority over compromise, worldliness, and all evil. Plead for God’s protection. Cover your home with the precious blood of Jesus Christ. Make your home strong to resist the buffeting of the storms of life. Fill your children with God’s Word so they will be strong to face the storms. Become such a diligent watchwoman that you scare the devil!

Blessings to you today,

Nancy Campbell

No other woman can compare with the highest favor that was ever given to a woman, a young teenager named Mary, who was privileged to carry the Son of God in her womb. The angel called her “highly favored” in Luke 1:28 and 30. This privilege was given to only one woman in the whole of history.

However, each time a new baby is conceived in a womb, it is also a God moment. It is God who gives the conception. It is God who creates this new, precious life in the womb—a life that has never lived before and there will never be anyone like this one again. And because God gives life and loves life, His favor is also upon every pregnant woman.

In the original Greek, the word for “highly favored” is “charitoo.” This word was never used before the New Testament! It means “to be accepted, to give grace to.” It was God’s grace to Mary to receive the privilege to carry Jesus in her womb. It is also God’s grace to us to carry a life in our womb.

Dear mother, don’t be deceived by the lies of the world and society around you. There is no higher mission you can do in your life than to carry a new human being, and more truthfully, an eternal soul in your womb.

Embrace the blessedness. Embrace the truth. Live in the joy of it. Live in the glory of it. Lift up your head for you are doing something eternal. Everything else you do in life will be left behind, but you will take this precious child into the eternal realm with you if you are faithful to lead him/her to salvation.

What an amazing assignment. You are giving a child the opportunity and privilege to experience the glory of eternity with Christ forever. It’s only in the “forever glory” that you will truly understand the enormity and power of carrying a child in your womb.

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

Picture of Meadow Hall, my granddaughter, expecting her first baby in January 2018.

Be blessed, Nancy

However, although it is all around us, we must be on guard that none of the “foreign” enters our home. Our home should be a sanctuary from evil--all that is opposite to God’s standard, His Word, and His heart.

The Adversary looks for any opening he can find to intrude into your sanctuary. Guard your gates. Guard your home on all four sides. By intercession and prayer, put a hedge of protection around your home (Job 1:10).

Give no foothold for the enemy. Allow no estrangement in your marriage. Don’t allow any worldly spirit to come in through the media. Be ruthless against the enemy. 1 Peter 5:8-9 says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith."

Let's have the same testimony as Nehemiah when he confessed, “I purged out everything foreign” (Nehemiah 13:30 NLT).

Many blessings to you and your family today,

Nancy Campbell

P.S. Read these Scriptures also: Deuteronomy 7:25-26; Palm 144: 7-8, 11-15; Lamentations 4:12; Ephesians 5:11 and 6:10-13.

Later Jonathan said to David: “Tomorrow is the new moon and YOU WILL BE MISSED FOR YOUR SEAT WILL BE EMPTY.”

We notice from this story that it was the expected and normal thing for every member in the household to be seated at the table for the evening meal. It is a sad thing to see an empty seat. That means someone in the family or extended household is missing. And it is always disappointing when someone is missing.

When our children grew older and were out at work with their own jobs, I still expected them to be home every evening for the family meal. They had to call me in good time to let me know if something very important cropped up. Otherwise they were expected to fill their seat. This is normality, and yet it is passing away from families today. Do you make it a priority for all the seats around your table to be filled each night?

I noticed something else too. Each person sat at their assigned place. Verse 25 says: “The king sat down in his usual place by the wall, with Jonathan opposite him and Abner at his side. But David’s place was vacant.” This shows us that it is important to have order in our home and at the table. Each person knows the seat they are to sit at each evening, rather than everything trying to compete for their own seat.

At our table, Colin always sits at t the head of the table as he is the head of the home and I sit beside him. Each person then has their particular seat.

I also remember how that when Jesus fed the five thousand plus people and later the four thousand, that He did not distribute any food to them until they were all sitting down.

I believe God intends us to sit for our meals. We are not meant to eat standing up or walking around. We are meant to SIT and eat and fellowship together. We don’t receive the same goodness and value from our food when we walk around eating. We need to sit to receive. That means physically and spiritually. We cannot even receive from the Lord when we try to get something from Him in a rush. We must sit to receive, just as Mary “SAT AT JESUS FEET and head his word” (Luke 10:39).

Blessings to you today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: “Sunset” by Abraham Hunter.

The vineyards that the settlers are growing on the West Bank of Israel are brining forth sweet wine and winning world competitions. They don’t grow in luscious soil, but grow on the stony mountains of Samaria, growing up out of stones. They say that the pressure to grow up through the stones causes the grapes to become sweet.

Just as God promises that "the mountains will drip sweet wine" (Amos 9:13) which is being fulfilled today on the hills of Samaria, so we wives should drip sweet wine in our homes. A sweet attitude toward our husband. Sweet words coming forth from our lips.

The husband in Song of Solomon 4:11 (NET) says to his wife, "Your lips drip sweetness like the honeycomb, my bride, honey and milk are under your tongue." Dripping sweetness! Can your husband say these words to you?

Are you a "sour grapes" or sweet aroma?

Blessings to you today from Nancy Campbell

Even the footstool of God is glorious. And now we are His footstool here on earth. 1 John 4:17: "As He is, so are we in this world."

Dear mother, you are the footstool of God to your children as you reveal God to them through your daily attitude and actions. I love the quote by William Makepeace Thackeray which says, "Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children."

God wants His footstool to be glorious because He is glorious. May God save us from living sub-zero! May we understand the revelation of God's plan for us to be His glorious representation on earth, first to our husband and children, and then to everyone we meet.

As you get out of bed each morning, embrace your glorious commission. Realize that you are His footstool, revealing Christ to your children. You don't need any more motivation than that!

Be encouraged.

Nancy Campbell

Painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir