Above Rubies Daily Encouragement Blogs

Four rows of SQUASH:
Squash gossip
Squash indifference
Squash grumbling
Squash selfishness

Four rows of LETTUCE:
Lettuce be faithful
Lettuce be kind
Lettuce by patient
Lettuce really love one another

Three rows of TURNIPS:
Turnup for the family meal table
Turnup for church
Turnup to help one another

And lastly, you can’t grow a garden without THYME:
Thyme for God
Thyme for each other
Thyme for family
Thyme for friends

Water freely with patience and cultivate with love. You will harvest what you sow.

WOMAN'S RIGHTS!

Some people think that women should
Compete in life’s swift race
With men, and gain each privilege
Position, power, and place
Which he enjoys. I can’t agree
With those progressive lights;
I’ll tell you what appears to me
To be fair woman’s rights.

When passion’s young ecstatic fire
First kindles in our veins,
‘Tis woman’s right to bind our hearts
In Cupid’s rosy chains;
She wields a queenly scepter then
Which we must needs obey,
We’re building castles in the night
And dreaming all the day.

‘Tis woman’s right to be caressed
When love is in the spring
And when affection’s harvest comes
Her right it is to bring
The garnered fruits of happiness
To cheer man’s dreary way,
To smooth his tougher nature
And refine his coarser clay.

‘Tis woman’s right to wean us from
Our selfishness and greed,
A counsellor in trouble and
A faithful friend in need.
‘Tis woman’s right to lead us from
The foot of Mammon’s throne
And take us to a nobler shrine
Where purer joys are known.

‘Tis woman’s sacred right--and this
To her by God is given,
To teach the lisping little ones
The password into Heaven.
No joy man knows on earth can with
A mother’s bliss compare
When listening with the angel choir
She hears her child’s first prayer.

‘Tis woman’s right to lean on man
In sorrow and distress
For he was made to comfort her
And she was made to bless;
Her bulwark against danger, be
She daughter, sister, wife,
Or mother, he should guard her well
Aye, even with his life.

‘Tis woman’s right, ere we prepare
To battle in life’s van,
To shape our future destinies
And mould the mind of man.
And here, where we’re erecting on
Pacific’s breast a state,
The mothers of our rising race
Can make it poor or great.

~ Thomas Bracken

Because this year is the 40th anniversary of publishing Above Rubies, I recently re-read the very first magazine I published. I was amazed to see that I am still speaking and writing the same things I did 40 years ago. God’s truth doesn’t change.

The only wonderful thing is that over the years God has revealed increasingly more understanding of His plan and ways to me about women from His living Word. God doesn’t leave us in the dark, but makes His Word a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). We don’t have to sit in darkness.

The following is the FIRST little article I wrote for Above Rubies 40 years ago. I wonder who still has a copy of this magazine?

A GRACIOUS WOMAN
Did you know that God has given honor to women? Christianity does not put women down, but raises her to a place of honor and dignity. You are not significant. Nor are you inferior as a serving wife, mother, and homemaker, which are the greatest privileges God has given to women. Proverbs 11:16 says: “A gracious woman retaineth honor.”

The reason many are not happy in their role is because they have not accepted it and often resist it. It is true that there are times when it is not easy going, but there is a price to success in any career. It involves selflessness that doesn’t sit well with our lower nature. But surely it is this that matures us in strength and character and refines us to be gracious women.

Many women are crying out for their own rights. Feminists herald: “You don’t have to stay married. Put yourself first rather than serving your husband and children.” Does this really work? In fighting for her own rights, a woman loses the honor God divinely gives her.

It is the gracious woman who keeps her honor. What is grace? Jesus showed us what grace is like. We read the description in Philippians 2:6-8: “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

These words are preceded by the admonition: “Let this mind (attitude) be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (v. 5). Do we have the same attitude Jesus had? In our marriage and in our home? Are we prepared to lay down our lives for others? Do we show the same grace He showed?

We often feel we have the right to do what we want, but we don’t earn respect and honor by demanding our own way. There were times when I stomped through the house and exclaimed, “I’m just a servant around this place.” Then I hear the words of Jesus in my ear, “Nancy, didn’t I come to serve?” My heart softens again and I respond, “I’m sorry, Lord. Let me serve with love and graciousness.”

With this attitude, I find true happiness and contentment.

Be blessed today,

NANCY CAMPBELL

Painting by Charles Perugini, [British Painter, 1839-1918].

You are obediently fulfilling God’s great vision
To bring forth godly seed which is God’s commission.
He wants to fill this world with His glory and light,
A holy seed who will bring answer to this world’s plight.

May you raise sons and daughters who will be mighty for God,
Who will turn many to Jesus while on this sod,
"Arrows" who are polished and ready for the bow
To be sent forth in God’s time to attack the foe.

May you experience God’s strength and His help each day,
May you live in divine health as you eat the healthy way,
May you be filled with great joy, which is your strength
And know His mighty anointing for each day’s length.

Oh, I know that you often feel tired and worn,
But God’s promises are true, He has sworn
He will always be faithful; He will not let you down,
You can trust Him completely; He won’t let you drown.

Don’t get downhearted; throw self-pity out the door!
As you trust and obey, He’ll give grace more and more!
Keep pressing on, keep your eyes on the Lord,
Look beyond the day’s frustrations to the eternal reward!

The world is waiting to observe your radiant face,
To witness on you God’s glory and grace,
There is no greater testimony for this world to see
Than a joyful mother with a child on her knee.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL
www.aboverubies.org

What guides our lives? Are we conditioned and shaped by the customs of this world, or do we adhere to God's principles which are true wisdom and understanding? Yes, they are usually opposite to the ways of the world, but if we want to be a wise builder, we must do it God's way. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:25 that even "the foolishness of God is wiser than men."

Jeremiah the prophet exhorts the people in Jeremiah 10:2-3 (ESV): "Learn not the ways of the nations . . . for the customs of the people are vanity." But God's ways are the ways of wisdom.

On which foundation are you building your marriage and home? [Matthew 7:24-27).

And what about your children? Are you training them to live according to the culture of this world or according to Bible culture? Are you educating them in God’s ways or are they being educated by the humanist and progressive public education?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

God continually reminds us that He hates the pride. Psalm 101:5 (HCSB) says: “I cannot tolerate anyone with haughty eyes or an arrogant heart”. The CEB translation says: "I can't stomach anyone who has proud eyes or an arrogant heart."

God runs from pride! We won't experience His presence anywhere near us when we keep our proud heart (James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5).
But who does God want to dwell with? Those who have "a contrite and humble spirit" (Isaiah 57:15). When we follow the example of Jesus and humble ourselves, God comes right into our marriage with His mighty presence--melting stubbornness, softening hardness, and turning our hearts to one another.

May blessings fill your home today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: Pinzellades Al Mon

This secret works wonders for a problematic marriage, but also enhances a good marriage. Try it.

What about your children? Do they get more frowns than smiles from you? 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that we grow into the likeness of Jesus the more we behold Him. It says, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."

In the same way, your children become like the image they see on your face? Do they see a grumpy face? They'll be grumpy? Do they constantly look at a smiling and happy face? You'll have happy children.

But, you don't feel like smiling? Don't live by your feelings. That's such a miserable way to live. Smile even when you don't feel like smiling. Soon you'll be smiling because you feel like it and everyone in your home will be smiling, too.

Have a wonderful smiling day, Nancy Campbell

Nancy Campbell

Bless you husband with loving words and deeds today.

Love from Nancy Campbell

Not me. I make sure I wear one. However, there is an apron that God wants us all to wear. 1 Peter 5:5 (Williams) says: "You must all put on the servant's apron of humility to one another, because God opposes the haughty but bestows His unmerited favor on the humble."

When we dress each morning, it is important to also put on our "servant's apron." The apron of humility. What a mighty difference this makes in the home and in our relationships with our husband and children. It’s not always easy to wear, is it? But this is the apron that makes you look the most beautiful–and it is precious in God’s sight too.

Love from Nancy Campbell

I believe that we should encourage our children in the way God created them. We should affirm our sons with their male body. God created them to be stronger to do hard physical work and to be able to provide and protect their families. We encourage them to be strong, hard-working, and not wimps. We should affirm our daughters that God created them so wondrously with bodies that have the privilege to conceive and bring forth life into the world. Our children should grow up embracing who God created them to be.

I am so challenged when I read about Jesus in Hebrews 10:5 where He states that His Father prepared a body for Him. Or rather “fitted for Him.” God planned and designed Jesus’ body, but also the purpose for His body before time began. He was the Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:19, 20 and Revelation 13:8).

Hebrews 10:5-10 goes on to tell us that the very purpose for His body was to be offered up as a sacrificial victim for the sins of the world. He gave His body as a willing sacrifice to obey His Father’s will. The fitting of his body was not only for His incarnation, but for obedience “even unto death” (Philippians 2:5-8). He didn’t do this grudgingly, but with delight (Psalm 40:6-8).

When God gives us a body, it is not to please ourselves, but to fulfil the purpose for which God created and planned before the foundation of the world. Because God chose by His determinate counsel to create us female, we must embrace our femaleness and live it for His glory. We must embrace the anointing to nurture and mother and bring precious and eternal babies into this world, not only for the revelation of God’s image in the world, but for His eternal kingdom.

And just as Jesus came to give His body as an offering, so we should also “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1,2).

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

Painting by Daniel Gerhartz

This is the third post about having a purpose to build a home to the name of our God.

When Solomon publicly proclaims his vision to build a house for God in 2 Chronicles 2:1-9 he pinpoints his purpose more specifically.

Why does he want to build this house? Verse 4 says: "Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening. . .” What is this all about?

It was for these purposes that God asked Moses to build the tabernacle in the wilderness.

He told them to build a golden altar of incense where they were to burn sweet incense before him continually. To keep the incense burning they had to light it every morning and evening. In the Bible incense always speak of praise, worship, prayer, and intercession. Read the following Scriptures: Psalm 141:2; Revelation 5:8; and 8: 3, 4.

The shewbread speaks of the loaves of bread which were baked each week and placed upon the table of shewbread—speaking of Christ who is the bread of life and the Word of God which gives life to us daily.

The burnt offerings were sacrificed every morning and evening, each one pointing to Jesus Christ who was the pure, spotless Lamb of God slain before the foundation of the world. We no longer sacrifice animals to cover sin, because Jesus Christ died ONCE FOR ALL for our sins. This is repeated seven times in Hebrews 9:11-14; 25-28; 10:10-14; and 1 Peter 3:18.

However, we learn an amazing principle that God gave to us through the teaching of the tabernacle and that is the Morning and Evening principle. God wants us to come into His presence to worship Him, to hear from Him, and to intercede for the needs of the world every morning and every evening.

Solomon’s whole passion for building a house for God was to have a place where He could offer this sacrifice of praise to God continually. This exhortation also comes to us New Testament believers in Hebrews 13:15.

Can you feel Solomon’s passion when he says in verse 6: “But who is able to build him a house, seeing the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain him? Who am I then, that should build him a house, except as a place to burn sacrifices before him?”

“Except as a place . . .” This was his consuming passion. To have a place where he could sacrifice before God (Romans 12:1, 2). There was nothing more important to him.

As we build our house for God, it should also be our consuming passion to make a place in our homes and a time each day where we meet together to hear God’s Word, to worship Him, and to cry out to Him for the needs of others. This should be the minimum we give to God each day if He is truly Lord of our home.

We don’t try to fit this into our daily plan. If we have this attitude, we’ll never do it. Because it is our consuming passion, we make it happen, and fit everything else around it! If other things don’t get done, we have fulfilled the most important function of our home.

What kind of home are you building? A place where God is honored each day? A place where you meet with Him every morning and evening? A place that is hallowed with God’s presence?

Embrace the same purpose Solomon had which was to build a home that would be WONDERFUL and GREAT (verse 9).

Have a wonderful day,

Nancy Campbell

As in all building projects, you’ll face insurmountable problems and challenges as you build your home and family. But never give up. Never lag. When you have a passion and a purpose, nothing will deter you. No matter how many friends and family members ridicule you or what setbacks you face, you keep on faithfully building.

What does it mean to build? The Hebrew word is “banah” and has three meanings in the Hebrew.

1. To build. You constantly build up and strengthen your marriage and each one of your children. You build into your home each day, making it stronger and more unified.

Every decision you make, you make with the intention to build up your family, not fragment it. You determine to speak words to build up your husband and children and never to tear down (Proverbs 14:1).

2. To repair. Unless we constantly repair and renew, our house will deteriorate around us. We must repaint, fix broken things, renew floors and so on. It is the same with our family relationships. Because we are human, they will never be perfect. We must constantly repair--to forgive, bless, encourage, renew, and heal relationships.

3. To bring forth children. This is part of the Hebrew word “banah.” Check the Strong’s concordance. Ruth 4:11 speaks of Ruth and says: “The LORD make the woman that is come into thine house like Rachel and like Leah, which two did build the house of Israel.” How did Rachel and Leah build the house of Israel Not with hammer and nails? No. They laid the foundation and built it by bringing children into the world. Every child you bring into your family helps to build up your family.

Sadly, many families don’t have all the children God intends for them and don’t complete the building of their home!

And be reminded that your children are involved in building too. The most common Hebrew name for children is “ben” and comes from this word “banah.” This word children means “the builder of the family name.” Remind your children that they each one helps to build the family, not only to your family name, but ultimately to build a family to honor and glorify the name of the Lord.

Have a great family building day,

In His love,

Nancy Campbell

Painting by Rudolf Epp (1834 – 1910, German)

But sometimes in the midst of all the mess—babies, diapers, laundry, and dishes, you can lose sight of your goal. Or maybe you’ve never actually understood your purpose.

In 1 Kings 5:5 Solomon states: “And, behold, I PURPOSE to build a house unto the name of the LORD my God.” I love this statement. He didn’t hope to build a house for God. He purposed to build it.

You are also building a house for the name of the Lord God. Have you made it your purpose? This statement is repeated in 2 Chronicles 2:1, 4: “And Solomon DETERMINED to build a house for the name of the LORD and a house for his kingdom.”

The same Hebrew word is used in both instances, “amar” and it means “to say, declare, boast, publish, report, speak, answer, command, etc.” Many different words about speaking. This Hebrew word is used nearly 6,000 times in the Bible and I only found 18 references (including the two mentioned above) that do not use the word “say or speak, etc.”

Therefore, when Solomon purposed to build a house for the Lord, he SPOKE OUT HIS VISION! He didn’t keep it in his heart. Because it was a passion, burning within his soul, he couldn’t keep it to himself. He had to speak it out.

Can I encourage you, dear wives and mothers, to confess your purpose? SPEAK IT OUT DAILY. Confess to others. Remind your family about it.

“Dear children, God has made us a family and our highest purpose in life is to build a house for God in this world. We are in this together. Each one of us is part of the building program. Everything we do, we do with the intention to make our family strong for God. To make our home a holy home for His presence. To build an ark of protection in the midst of this deceived and dark world (Hebrews 11;7).”

When people ask your occupation, tell them: “I am building a family for God and His kingdom.”

When you have a purpose, you will accomplish great things.

More tomorrow.

Be blessed,

Nancy Campbell

We understand as we read these passages that God delights in singing and celebration at weddings. The word in the Hebrew is "halal" which means "to celebrate, praise, shine, and to give in marriage." The word is mainly used in the Bible to praise the Lord. I love to be at weddings where there is exuberant singing and worship to the Lord, don't you? I feel sad when I go to a wedding and there is no singing. How can you celebrate without singing?

God loves to see and hear singing, praise, and joy at weddings when two people are united together to begin another family. God rejoices. And we should rejoice. When God speaks of the blessing of God on the land He talks about "The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the Lord of hosts" (Jeremiah 33:11).

When there are no marriages celebrating—no feasting, joy, and marriage songs we are not experiencing the blessing of God, but His judgment.

If you are planning a wedding, include wedding songs of joy and celebration. And for all those married, keep the MARRIAGE SONG OF JOY AND GLADNESS alive in your marriage.

Blessings to you today,

Nancy Campbell

Painting: https://www.etsy.com/…/5…/bride-groom-art-print-wedding-day…

There was a time when a craftsman would work on his craft from beginning to end. The shoemaker would make his shoe from the beginning to the finished product and take great pride in his work. However, today we have specialization of labor where certain persons are assigned a specialized task to increase efficiency, productivity, and economic wealth. Each person becomes a specialist in their area.

My son-in-law is an engineer and works on Nissan cars. He oversees the molding of the engines. That is his specialized task. He doesn’t work on other parts of the manufacturing of the car.

There are advantages and disadvantages of the division of labor. One advantage is that the worker becomes an expert in his field and as he continually works on it, he finds better and faster ways to doing his task and therefore continues to improve efficiency. More products can be made and therefore more economic wealth.

One of the disadvantages is monotony because the worker is only doing one task.

I believe in the division of labor for marriage and family life. However, in our career we are blessed to embrace all the advantages and yet we don’t have the disadvantage of only doing the same thing day after day. Oh yes, we do have to do many of the same things, but we are not limited to them, nor do we have to do them the same way if we don’t want to. We can think of a new way of doing it. We are queen and manager of our home. We can make our home what we want it to be—a place of order, blessing, joy, and laughter. We can be as creative as we want to be. We have a domain to rule over. We are not subject to doing one task all day long. We have many different tasks.

But we do have specialization of labor. God has ordained this for the man and woman. He created men with 50 percent more brute strength than women. They are stronger to work hard to provide for their families, to take the weight of the overall responsibility of the family, and to protect their families.

He created the woman as a maternal being. He created her physically to conceive a baby in her womb and to nurture her babies and children. He created her for the home where she can release her God-given creative abilities. The sky is her limit.

However, when husband and wife both to do the same things we will not experience the same productivity. Oh yes, a wife may be able to earn more money than her husband, but in leaving her home and children she sacrifices her God-given career for a lesser one. No amount of finance can make up for the loss of the mother in the home.

Family life is fragmenting today because women are leaving the home. What is the fruit? The couple may have more money, but their family weakens. The families of the nation are weakening, and therefore the nation weakens.

As I talk with women I find that many women no longer have time to be home to prepare the meal for the family, to have time to sit with their children at mealtimes and talk together, and then have family devotions together. These times are far more important than taking the husband’s position of providing for the family, even if you must manage with less finance.

To leave babies in the care of others when God gave them to YOU is not worth all the money in the world. Others may care for your babies and children physically, but they will never feel and understand the true inner needs of your child. And your child will always be longing for YOU. They want their mother. God intends children to be raised by mothers in homes, not in daycares by unknown people.

Let’s walk in the true division of labor that God, the great wise Creator, mandated for us.

Have a great day, Nancy Campbell

Nancy Campbell
Painting by Mary Cassatt

Painting by Mary Cassatt

There's only such a fleeting time
To shape, sharpen, and hone.
I'll shoot them past the things of earth
To reach their heav'nly home.

Distractions of this daily life
Could cause me to forget
To use the tools of faith and truth
That heaven's range be set.

Advice will come from every side
On how to take best aim.
Help me listen only to the voice
That bears their owner's name.

The little honing here and there,
A touch up now and then,
Alone won't shape the sharpest point,
They'll need to reach their end.

I need to read their Maker's book,
To know it through and through,
To point them so they don't fall short
Of all they're called to do.

Oh Lord, please guide my arrows,
Enable my weak hands
To fashion them to reach the goal,
To live by Your commands.

Without Your help they will fall short;
My arms don't have the strength.
Through prayer and only by Your grace
They'll reach their goal at length.

2016, Val Halloran